After months of uptime problems, Web hosting provider Arvixe has turned things around, once again boasting rock-solid reliability and a wide range of plans for starting a website. The service has regained our endorsement.
Former champion web hosting service Arvixe has had a tumultous history since we’ve been reviewing it. Once a top overall choice, the service was then dogged by serious uptime and customer service woes before returning to excellence and even capturing our Editors’ Choice for dedicated hosting last year—an award it has now ceded to Hostwinds. Lingering customer service issues prevent it from joining DreamHost, HostGator, and Hostwinds as overall top choices among web hosting services. Still, Arvixe is a very strong contender, boasting one of the most complete feature sets in the industry, with worthwhile shared, virtual private server (VPS) , and dedicated hosting plans.
Arvixe’s shared web hosting plans give you the option of hosting your website on a Linux- or Windows-based server, so you have plenty of flexibility for laying your site’s foundation. Like HostGator, the Editors’ Choice for shared web hosting services, Arvixe offers a standard monthly web hosting charge, but it kicks savings your way if you commit to a multi-month or annual package.
The Linux-based PersonalClass shared web plan (starting at $7) includes a free domain name you can keep as long as you use Arvixe, a free domain transfer, unlimited monthly data transfers, unlimited storage, unlimited email, and the ability to host six domains. If you opt for PersonalClass Pro (starting at $10 per month) , you can host as many domains as you like. The Windows-based PersonalClass ASP and PersonalClass ASP Pro start at $4 per month and $6.40 per month, respectively, and offer specs similar to those of their Linux-based counterparts.
These are fine shared hosting plans, but HostGator beats Arvixe to continue its reign as the Editors’ Choice for shared web hosting. Although both services offer the choice of Linux- or Windows-based hosting, and unlimited domains, email, storage, and monthly data transfers, HostGator tosses in a free toll-free phone number and a private secure socket layer (SSL certificate) . Arvixe used to offer free SSL certificates, too, but now they cost $25 per year.
If you’re in need of a web hosting setup that’s more powerful than shared web hosting, but far less expensive than dedicated web hosting, Arvixe has attractive VPS packages starting at $43 per month. Regardless of the tier you select—there are six in total—you enjoy unlimited email, domains, and monthly data transfers. That freedom is important if you envision your company growing over time. Arvixe’s Linux VPS selections top out at 3GB of RAM and 100GB of storage, while the Windows VPS plans max out 4GB of RAM and 100GB of storage. If you plan to build (or migrate) a site built on an ASP. NET framework, you’ll appreciate Arvixe’s Windows-based VPS packages.
That said, Hostwinds tops Arvixe to take the crown as our Editors’ Choice for VPS hosting, offering up to 28.5GB of RAM and 600GB of disk space.
Arvixe’s dedicated servers start at $108 per month for a cloud-based server, or $131 per month for a traditional hard drive-based server. Arvixe’s options are more wallet-friendly than the dedicated servers of Media Temple, which start at a pricey $2,000 per month.
Arvixe lets you configure its Linux- or Windows-based cloud servers with up to 8GB of RAM, 300GB of storage, and unlimited monthly data transfers. The traditional servers can be outfitted with up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of HDD storage (or 512GB of solid-state storage) , and unlimited monthly data transfers.
Arvixe’s robust dedicated server offerings are quite good, but Hostwinds takes the crown as the category’s Editors’ Choice. Hostwinds’s dedicated hosting packages (starting at $99) can be outfitted with up to 3TB of storage, 128GB of RAM, and boasts unlimited monthly data transfers. Hostwinds gives you a choice of Linux- or Windows-based operating systems, too.
RVSiteBuilder, a website builder included with Arvixe’s hosting packages, is what I used to build an Arvixe test site. RVSiteBuilder prompted me to key in my site’s name, an optional slogan, and essential page categories (such as About Us, Contact, Home, and so on) . After saving my selections, I clicked the Edit icon to begin shaping my site.
RVSitebuilder offers far more site-construction options than 1&1 ‘s WebsiteBuilder, but it isn’t overwhelming. I found it easy to drag and drop text, add images, and change the template and color scheme. Unlike 1&1’s tool, RVSiteBuilder lets you add your own code to the prefabricated elements, which opens the door to a more custom look. In fact, 1&1 requires you to subscribe to WebsiteBuilder Plus (for $9.99 per month) to add code. Arvixe’s built-in site-builder is the one area where the web host has an edge over Dreamhost, which lacks a site-building tool.
Still, I prefer GoDaddy’s flexible Website Builder ($1 per month) . This tool’s creation process makes it simple to add forms, social media links, Google Maps, slideshows, and other items by dragging them around the template. It contains the most attractive site elements, too. Arvixe’s Softaculous library has dozens of apps that can be used to improve your website, including ClipBucket and Podcast Generator.
Arvixe also offers WordPress hosting (starting at $7 per month, or $4 per month with a two-year commitment) in the form of preinstalled managed WordPress hosting that gives your installation the white-glove treatment. Arvixe keeps the WordPress software up to date, automatically backs up data, updates plug-ins, and offers security measures to ward off hackers and malware.
Unlike WP Engine, Arvixe offers managed WordPress hosting that comes with unlimited storage and monthly data transfers, so you don’t have to worry about hitting a cap. That said, Arvixe has a limitation of its own—you can only use it to host a maximum of six managed WordPress domains. 1&1, the PCMag Editors’ Choice for WordPress hosting, lets you host an unlimited number of domains.
Arvixe’s aforementioned Softaculous software library also has email marketing tools, such as OpenNewsletter, an app that lets you send mail-based newsletters to a subscribers list. Softaculous also contains Magento (an online shopping cart app) , which let me create an attractive store in just a few minutes by dragging and dropping website elements.
Magento has more flexibility than 1&1’s Online Store in terms of colors and design options, but with that flexibility comes an extra layer of complexity that will demand more of your time.
All Arvixe web hosting packages come with security features. Even with the most basic Arvixe plan, you can rest easy knowing that nightly security updates, brute force detection, firewalls, and anti-DDoS tools are in place.
