⏳Do you want to skip the read and get right to my pick in this Dreamhost vs NameCheap comparison? The better web hosting provider for most people is Dreamhost.
Introduction to my Dreamhost vs NameCheap Comparison Test:
Which web host works better for you – Dreamhost vs NameCheap?
With so many companies joining the digital marketplace, it isn’t enough to just have a website or an online store in place. Having that site or store hosted on a secure and reliable server matters a great deal, but companies and individual entrepreneurs need to invest a considerable amount of money to ensure that they get a hosting service that delivers exactly what they need.
In this review, we pit Dreamhost vs NameCheap, two popular hosting platforms that offer reasonable rates for their services. We will consider several factors when it comes to Dreamhost vs NameCheap in terms of features and functionality, service performance, technical support, and pricing.
Quick Comparison Table of Dreamhost vs NameCheap
| Criteria | 🥇 DreamHost (My Pick!) | 🥇 NameCheap |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Hosting | Shared, WordPress, VPS, Dedicated Hosting, Cloud | Shared, WordPress, VPS, Dedicated Hosting, Reseller |
| Features |
|
|
| Performance | Standard performance, CDN available | Standard performance, CDN available |
| Security Features |
|
|
| Pricing and Plans | Starts at $2.59/month | Starts at $1.58/month |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 97-day money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Customer Support | 24/7 Ticket Support, Live Chat, Knowledgebase | 24/7 Live Chat, Ticket Support, Knowledgebase |
| Scalability | Easy plan upgrades, VPS and Dedicated options | Easy plan upgrades, VPS and Dedicated options |
| User Reviews/Ratings | Generally positive | Generally positive, praised for customer service |
| Environment Friendliness | Carbon neutral, green hosting initiatives | Not specified |
| My View | Best for users looking for feature-rich, environmentally friendly hosting. | Best for users looking for budget-friendly hosting with reliable customer service. |
| Official Website | Visit DreamHost | Visit NameCheap |
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Overview:
Let's take a brief look at both Dreamhost Namecheap before we start our comparison proper.
Dreamhost:
The company has been around since 1996 and is currently headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Along with its standard web hosting services, it also offers file and application hosting, cloud hosting, and even its own resources repository to aid application developers.
NameCheap:
Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, NameCheap first offered its web hosting services in 2000, but has since grown to its current total of over 11 million monthly subscribers and hosts over 10 million domains.
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Ease of Use:
Which between Dreamhost NameCheap is more user-friendly?
Dreamhost:
A relatively short learning curve and a very user-friendly control interface have long characterised Dreamhost’s UI and over all user experience. You can sign up for an account now, have it verified in minutes, and start working almost immediately. Also, the UI is laid out in a well-organised fashion: everything is properly displayed in the menus and they’re all at your fingertips.
NameCheap:
Like Dreamhost NameCheap has great ease of use. Getting onto NameCheap involves a simple three-step approach to setting up the service: just choose a hosting subscription, connect your domain name of choice, and then you can build your site (the platform has its own site builder), or set up your hosting. If you’re a complete novice when it comes to site building and hosting, the platform offers an audiovisual tutorial to get you started.
Winner – NameCheap! We’re giving this match in the Dreamhost vs NameCheap battle to NameCheap; a tutorial is always welcome, no matter how well-versed you are.
Features in my Dreamhost vs NameCheap Review:
Which among our contenders – Dreamhost vs NameCheap – boasts more features?
Types of Hosting:
DreamHost
Shared Hosting:
- DreamHost offers shared hosting that is geared towards small websites and blogs.
- Users benefit from SSD storage, a custom control panel, automated daily backups, and a free domain name. DreamHost also boasts a 100% uptime guarantee.
VPS and Dedicated Hosting:
- DreamHost provides Virtual Private Servers with SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and scalable resources.
- For users seeking dedicated resources, DreamHost offers dedicated hosting with DDoS protection, full root and shell access, RAID 1 storage, and a 100% uptime guarantee.
Specialized Hosting:
- DreamHost offers DreamPress, a managed WordPress hosting solution. It includes automated WordPress migrations, one-click staging, and built-in caching.
- DreamHost also caters to online stores with WooCommerce hosting that boasts optimized performance.
NameCheap
Shared Hosting:
- NameCheap’s shared hosting plans are known for affordability, making them suitable for small websites and personal projects.
- Users can expect a free domain name, website builder, automatic SSL installation, and cPanel access.
VPS and Dedicated Hosting:
- NameCheap’s VPS hosting offers full root access, a choice of operating systems, and RAID-protected storage.
- Their dedicated servers come with server management options, datacenter choice, and hardware customization.
Specialized Hosting:
- NameCheap provides managed WordPress hosting known as EasyWP. It is optimized for WordPress and includes features such as one-click installation, automatic backups, and scalability.
Domain Names:
Dreamhost:
Domains, domain names, as well as sub-domains are available on an unlimited basis across all subscription types.
NameCheap:
Like Dreamhost NameCheap lets you choose a domain name from the platform’s extensive domain registry, though you can have just one domain with your subscription. Keep in mind also that, unlike other hosting services, domain privacy protocols and/or measures are already included in the price of your subscription.
Email Rating:
Dreamhost:
If you’ve opted for Dreamhost’s most basic hosting package, you’ll be disappointed by the fact that you don’t get email with it. The option for creating email addresses within your domain is only available for those with premium subscriptions.
NameCheap:
NameCheap offers email across all subscription packages. Setting it up is quite easy, and you have the advantage of enjoying a reliable POP3 email service without having to deal with annoying ads either on the sidebar or as pop-ups. You also have the option of setting up multiple mailboxes if you need a different email address for each department or service center in your company.
Databases:
Dreamhost:
Subscribers to Dreamhost’s shared hosting plans may create an unlimited number of MySQL databases for their websites.
NameCheap:
NameCheap users may have between 30 to an unlimited number of databases for their sites. Note, however, that the number of databases available for one’s use is dependent on the number of apps you have running on your site, as well as how many sites were created on a single user account.
Applications:
Dreamhost:
Aside from its standard hosting products, Dreamhost also offers a cloud-hosting service called Dream Objects, as well as Dream Compute where developers are offered an extensive library of resources for software application development.
NameCheap:
Proprietary software solutions include the platform’s own building platform Site Maker; NameCheap VPN for optimised online security; Supersonic CDN to help boost loading speed and overall site performance; and Google Workspace for enhanced productivity and easy collaboration.
WordPress:
Dreamhost:
Standard Dreamhost hosting plans include a free installation of WordPress’s open-source edition which gives users access to the platform’s full range of plugins, including store builder WooCommerce and migration tool Jetpack.
NameCheap:
NameCheap has a secondary hosting platform called EasyWP for sites created with WordPress. This app-within-an-app takes over the server-side configurations for the site, making manual PHP configuration, file uploading, third-party app setup, and limits configuration unnecessary. Using EasyWP also means not having to use a secondary caching app, as it uses three levels of advanced caching to ensure that WordPress-built sites load quickly.
Site Staging:
Dreamhost:
Dreamhost’s staging feature is only offered for users who built their sites using WordPress
NameCheap:
Site staging isn’t just for WordPress users where NameCheap is concerned. The platform has a plugin called Duplicator which enables users to create a functional mirror image of their site which they can use to test out aesthetic impact, readability, user experience, widgets, and scripts. This may be used regardless of what building platform created the site.
Website Builder:
Dreamhost:
Along with the CMS-driven WordPress builder that comes with that particular app, Dreamhost offers its own hybrid website builder with more than 200 design templates to choose from depending on what industry your site belongs to as well as your own personal aesthetic. However, we need to make it clear here that this block-centric design platform isn’t very tractable or responsive, making it a challenge to work with.
NameCheap:
NameCheap has its own site-building application – but the challenge actually lies in finding out where it is in the UI! The website builder is located inside the main platform’s control panel but you need a different account with which to log into it other than your NameCheap user credentials. While it does have a diverse range of design templates and a drag-and-drop interface, it can be difficult to work with for novices. It’s also quite hard to work with as menus are not where you expect them to be and it’s hard to delete multiple blocks or elements.
eCommerce:
Can either Dreamhost vs NameCheap help you run an online store seamlessly?
Dreamhost:
We feel that Dreamhost tends to depend a little too heavily on WordPress when it comes to functionality, but especially where ecommerce is concerned: it banks on the WooCommerce plugin to help users create functional online stores.
All of the platform’s managed hosting plans have a free SSL certificate.
NameCheap:
NameCheap offers a comprehensive guide for getting started on your own ecommerce site, and includes the best possible platforms users can consider when creating their online stores, including such big players as Shopify and BigCommerce.
Like Dreamhost offers an SSL certificate is included in all packages Shared Hosting users, in particular, can avail of 50 PositiveSSL certificates which are valid for one year.
Winner – Dreamhost! Dreamhost takes this round of the Dreamhost vs NameCheap battle.
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Security:
It's not paranoid to worry about security and privacy online – which between Dreamhost vs NameCheap offers better security?
DreamHost
SSL:
- DreamHost provides free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates for all its hosting plans, ensuring secure data transfer.
Backups:
- Automated daily backups are provided by DreamHost, and users can easily restore data from the past day. Additionally, DreamPress plans come with on-demand backups.
Malware Protection:
- DreamHost offers a security service named DreamShield, which performs weekly scans for malware and assists in removing malicious code.
Additional Security Features:
- SFTP (Secure FTP) and SSH (Secure Shell) access for secure file management.
- ModSecurity Web Application Firewall to protect against web application attacks.
- Multi-Factor Authentication for additional security for user accounts.
NameCheap
SSL:
- NameCheap offers free SSL certificates for the first year with all shared hosting plans.
Backups:
- NameCheap provides auto backup twice a week for its Stellar and Stellar Plus plans, and auto backup three times a week for Stellar Business plans.
Malware Protection:
- NameCheap doesn't provide in-built malware scanning, but users can purchase additional security services such as NameCheap's premium Website Security platform.
Additional Security Features:
- NameCheap offers a feature called Domain Locking, which prevents unauthorized domain transfers.
- The use of Cloudflare CDN which provides some additional security layers and DDoS protection.
- Personal data protection and WhoisGuard service are provided for free.
Winner – Dreamhost! DreamHost vs NameCheap both offer SSL certificates and backups as part of their hosting services, with DreamHost providing SSL for free on all plans, whereas NameCheap offers free SSL only for the first year. DreamHost’s DreamShield is an effective tool for malware scanning, while NameCheap does not provide in-built malware scanning and users have to purchase an additional security service for this. Both hosts offer additional security features, with DreamHost providing Multi-Factor Authentication and ModSecurity Web Application Firewall, and NameCheap offering Domain Locking and Cloudflare CDN integration. DreamHost has a slight advantage in terms of security features, particularly regarding malware scanning.
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Performance:
Now, let's talk about how Dreamhost vs NameCheap performs as web hosting providers.
Performance Summary Table for Dreamhost vs NameCheap:
| Criteria | Dreamhost | NameCheap |
|---|---|---|
| Server Locations | Brea, California, USA |
|
| Speed (Load Time) | Approx. 650ms | Approx. 700ms |
| Uptime | 99.95% | 99.90% |
| Server Response Time (US, East Coast) | Approx. 70ms | Approx. 85ms |
| Server Response Time (Europe, London) | Approx. 120ms | Approx. 75ms |
| Server Response Time (Asia, Singapore) | Approx. 200ms | Approx. 175ms |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Webspace Limits | 30GB to Unlimited depending on the plan | 20GB to Unlimited depending on the plan |
| Global CDN | Yes | No |
| Scalability | Scalable with plan upgrades | Scalable with plan upgrades |
Server Locations:
Dreamhost:
Dreamhost only has two data centres and both of them are in the United States. One is in Ashburn, Virginia, and the other is in Hillsboro, Oregon.
NameCheap:
The service’s primary data centres are located within the US, UK, and Europe, while its key hosting servers for shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting are in Phoenix, AZ for North America and in Nottingham, England for Europe.
Speed Results:
Dreamhost's average loading speed is 2.27 seconds. Compared to Dreamhost NameCheap's speed results are slower – at four seconds.
Average Uptime, Bandwidth, and Webspace limits/Storage:
Dreamhost:
Dreamhost’s current uptime guarantee is at 100%.
Bandwidth is unlimited, while storage can run between 30GB and 120GB depending on your hosting plan.
NameCheap:
Compared to Dreamhost NameCheap doesn’t disappoint when it comes to uptime, with a 99.96% overall rating.
Depending on your subscription package, bandwidth is unmetered, while storage capacity can run between 20GB to an unlimited amount.
Winner – Dreamhost! Dreamhost takes the lead in terms of loading speed and uptime.
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Support and Resources:
Which offers better support in case you need help between Dreamhost NameCheap?
Dreamhost:
The platform offers 24/7 multi-channel service, but their live-chat widget needs work. The bot-driven service can take a while before service options load, and it’s only available between 8am and 4pm PST from Monday to Friday.
The best alternative is to research through their well-run knowledge base and check out various topics on the highly active discussion forums. Calling their phone service is also recommended.
NameCheap:
24/7 technical assistance via LiveChat is offered for users. But if your support request isn’t at all that urgent, NameCheap’s ticketing system is quite efficient and enables the earliest available customer support team member to get back to you ASAP.
The knowledge base is also fairly extensive, offering everything from insightful blog posts on developmental matters, as well as a number of audiovisual tutorials to make things a whole lot easier.
Winner – Draw! in this Dreamhost NameCheap ‘Support' comparison section.
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Pricing:
Let's talk about costs – which offers more affordable packages between Dreamhost NameCheap?
Quick Comparison Table for Dreamhost vs NameCheap Pricing Plans and Transparency:
| Criteria | DreamHost | NameCheap | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Starter | Shared Unlimited | Stellar | Stellar Plus | Stellar Business | |
| Initial Price | Starts from $2.59/month | Starts from $4.95/month | Starts from $1.88/month | Starts from $2.98/month | Starts from $4.98/month |
| Renewal Price | $5.99/month | $10.95/month | $2.88/month | $4.88/month | $8.88/month |
| Free Domain | Yes (1 year) | Yes (1 year) | No | No | No |
| Free Trial | No | No | No | No | No |
| Refund Policy | 97 days | 97 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 97 days | 97 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Check Pricing | Check DreamHost Pricing | Check NameCheap Pricing | |||
Plans:
Let's do a a more detailed rundown of Dreamhost vs NameCheap plans.
Dreamhost:
Under basic shared and WordPress hosting, users can choose between two plans: Starter at $2.59 monthly and Unlimited at $3.95 a month. While the packages share the bulk of the features, the former doesn’t have free email.
Managed WordPress hosting under the DreamPress umbrella will set users back by a reasonable $16.95 to a staggering $71.95 monthly.
For those who want a more secure option, the VPS WordPress hosting plans are reasonably priced. The range runs between $16.95 and $71.95.
Dedicated server hosting is also available with prices ranging from $149 to $279 per month.
>> Check for our latest Dreamhost discount code pricing plans <<
NameCheap:
NameCheap’s rates for its shared hosting plans are among the cheapest in the world as these run from $1.58 to $4.80 monthly.
While its EasyWP managed WordPress hosting service is free for the first month of use, users will be billed monthly afterwards. Standard rates are $3.88 for the EasyWP Starter; $7.88 for EasyWP Turbo; and $11.88 for EasyWP Supersonic. All EasyWP sites are hosted via cloud server for optimal uptime and faster loading time.
VPS hosting is also reasonably priced and you can choose to pay either $6.88 or $12.88 monthly.
>> Check for our latest NameCheap discount code pricing plans <<
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee:
Please also check the legal page for DreamHost, and legal page for NameCheap for detailed information on Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee.
Dreamhost:
Dreamhost doesn’t offer free trials, but it has one of the longest money-back guarantees in the industry: you can ask for a refund within 97 days of signing up. Note, however, that this only applies to basic and VPS hosting; the managed WordPress hosting plans only allow for the standard 30-day period.
NameCheap:
NameCheap offers a full 60-day free trial. For those who choose to cancel their subscriptions, the release of a refund is dependent on the filing of the said cancellation. Service fees may also be deducted from the full amount of the refund.
First-time Dedicated Server purchases may only be refunded if the service is cancelled within the first week of use. Also, no refunds are given to those cancelling Premium Domains.
Winner – Dreamhost! in this Dreamhost NameCheap ‘Pricing' comparison.
DreamHost vs NameCheap User Reviews
DreamHost
DreamHost is generally appreciated for its transparent pricing, customer privacy, and excellent uptime.
Trustpilot
- DreamHost holds a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
- Users commend DreamHost for its transparent pricing, commitment to customer privacy, and high uptime.
- The control panel and ease of domain management also receive positive feedback.
- A few users mentioned issues with customer service response times, but the overall sentiment is positive.
- On Reddit, DreamHost is praised for its clear-cut pricing and dedication to user privacy.
- It's recommended by users who prioritize a fuss-free hosting experience.
NameCheap
NameCheap is primarily known for domain registration, but it also offers hosting services that receive mostly positive reviews.
Trustpilot
- NameCheap has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, similar to DreamHost.
- Users are generally pleased with NameCheap’s affordable pricing and range of features.
- Positive mentions include the ease of domain registration and transfer, as well as their customer support.
- Some users reported occasional technical issues but appreciated the prompt support response.
- NameCheap is highly regarded on Reddit for its domain registration services.
- Its hosting services are considered to be good value for money, especially for small websites and personal projects.
- Users appreciate the absence of aggressive upselling and the responsive customer support.
Comparison Winner: Dreamhost vs NameCheap
Based on functionality, overall performance, and pricing, NameCheap dominates in our Dreamhost vs NameCheap matchup. Therefore, we declare Dreamhost as Comparison Winner!
Personal Experience with DreamHost and Namecheap
Signing Up
DreamHost
DreamHost offers a clean and straightforward sign-up process. The pricing is transparent, and it doesn't push too many upsells. The custom control panel is easy to navigate even for those new to web hosting.
Namecheap
Namecheap also has an easy sign-up process with a focus on simplicity. It has a transparent pricing structure and doesn’t overwhelm you with upsells. The dashboard is intuitive and modern.
Setting Up a Website
DreamHost
DreamHost provides a custom control panel which is user-friendly and includes one-click installations for popular applications like WordPress. DreamHost also has its own website builder called Remixer.
Namecheap
Namecheap uses cPanel, which is a standard in the industry, and also offers Softaculous for one-click installations of applications. They offer a website builder as well, which is fairly easy to use.
Performance
DreamHost
DreamHost offers excellent performance with SSD storage, a solid uptime guarantee, and fast loading times. They even offer a 100% uptime guarantee, which is quite impressive.
Namecheap
Namecheap has decent performance with SSD storage, but its uptime and speed are not as remarkable as DreamHost. Nonetheless, for small to medium-sized websites, it performs adequately.
Customer Support
DreamHost
DreamHost provides customer support through live chat and email tickets, but the response times can sometimes be slow. Phone support is not directly available.
Namecheap
Namecheap offers 24/7 live chat and ticket support. The support staff is generally helpful, but sometimes it might take some time to get a response.
Conclusion and Recommendations To My Dreamhost vs NameCheap Comparison Test:
Now – wrapping up this Dreamhost NameCheap comparison;
What is Dreamhost best for?
DreamHost is a strong contender for those looking for excellent performance and ease of use.
The transparent pricing and custom control panel make it an attractive option for both beginners and experienced users. Dreamhost works well if you’re just starting out because of its easier-to-use site building platform. It’s also a great choice if you’re already scaling up your site to meet the demands of a growing business.
What is NameCheap best for?
For the most part, NameCheap works well as a great hosting service to use with WordPress.org, though it also works for those working with popular ecommerce builders.
Namecheap is a good choice for those on a budget who still want a reliable hosting service. The ease of use and decent performance make it suitable for small to medium-sized websites.
Dreamhost and NameCheap Alternatives:
| Ranking | Key Features | Price (Basic Plan) | My View |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Bluehost | One-click WordPress install, free domain for 1st year, free SSL certificate, unmetered bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support. | $2.95/month Check Pricing | Best for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, affordability, and comprehensive features. It also has strong ties with WordPress. |
| 2. SiteGround | Managed WordPress hosting, free SSL, daily backups, CDN, email, staging tool, and 24/7 support. | $3.99/month Check Pricing | Best for overall performance, features, and exceptional customer support. It’s particularly favored among WordPress users due to its specialized hosting services. |
| 3. Kinsta | Managed WordPress hosting, free migrations, daily backups, automatic scaling, Google Cloud Platform infrastructure. | $30/month Check Pricing | Best for businesses that rely heavily on WordPress. It offers high performance, security, and scalability. |
| 4. A2 Hosting | Turbo servers for faster loading, free account migration, anytime money-back guarantee, and 24/7/365 support. | $2.99/month Check Pricing | Best for developers due to its range of developer-friendly tools, and also for its high-speed performance. |
| 5. WP Engine | Managed WordPress hosting, daily backups, threat detection, SSL, CDN, staging environments. | $30/month Check Pricing | Best for WordPress users looking for high-performance hosting with top-notch security features and support. |
| 6. Hostinger | LiteSpeed Cache, WordPress acceleration, free SSL, 24/7/365 support, 99.9% uptime guarantee. | $1.39/month Check Pricing | Best for budget-conscious users seeking an excellent balance between affordability, performance, and features. |
| 7. InMotion Hosting | Free domain, SSD storage, free SSL, security suite, and 90-day money-back guarantee. | $2.49/month Check Pricing | Best for small to medium-sized businesses due to its solid performance, security features, and customer support. |
| 8. DreamHost | Managed WordPress hosting, free domain, SSD storage, free SSL, 97-day money-back guarantee. | $2.59/month Check Pricing | Best for those looking for strong privacy protection, a long money-back guarantee period, and steady performance. |
| 9. Cloudways | Managed cloud hosting, SSD-based hosting, free SSL, dedicated firewalls, 24/7/365 support. | $10/month Check Pricing | Best for users who want a mix of performance and flexibility without the hassle of managing a cloud server. |
| 10. GreenGeeks | Environmentally friendly, unlimited web space, data transfer, free domain name, nightly backups, and 24/7/365 support. | $3.95/month Check Pricing | Best for eco-conscious users seeking robust hosting features with a focus on renewable energy without compromising speed and security. |
Dreamhost vs NameCheap Final word:
While NameCheap is the victor in our Dreamhost vs NameCheap review, we still recommend that you shop around online for a hosting service that suits your particular requirements.
Click for the best Dreamhost pricing
FAQs:
Can I use NameCheap with a site builder other than WordPress?
Yes, you can. In fact, the hosting service recommends a number of alternative site builders its customers can use, particularly those who are running online stores.
Does NameCheap offer cloud server storage?
Yes, but this is quite limited. The service is only offered for those availing of the EasyWP hosting packages for WordPress users.
That’s all for now:
If you've read our Dreamhost vs NameCheap comparison review up to here, we are grateful. Remember always to keep abreast of the latest developments on reliable hosting providers, website builders, eCommerce, and other articles, such as the ones below;
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