FastComet Review: Features, Pricing, & Free For Life Domains

FastComet is known for its robust and reliable hosting solutions. This review shares the advantages and drawbacks of using this web host to get your website live. We explore their diverse web hosting plans, pricing, and technical capabilities. We also examine FastComet’s data center locations, WordPress optimizations, and customer support. To conclude, we share some FastComet alternatives to help you make a well-informed decision about whether they’re the right pick for your website. Let’s go!

Who Is FastComet?

FastComet is an independent global web hosting company founded in 2013. It has grown to support over 750,000 personal and small-business website owners, with a team of over 100 employees and a presence in 11 data centers worldwide. It’s one of the few privately-owned web hosting entities still around today. They claim to be committed to upholding their values of teamwork, integrity, respect, and knowledge sharing, while delivering high quality hosting.

Where Is FastComet Located?

FastComet is located in San Francisco, California, USA.

What Are the Main Benefits of Using FastComet?

There are six main benefits of using FastComet. Firstly, it offers a wide selection of 11 data center locations worldwide. Secondly, 24/7/365 customer support is available. Thirdly, there is an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee. Fourthly, FastComet includes many security features. Fifthly, daily backups are included. Lastly, there is a ‘free for life’ domain offer.

What Are the Possible Drawbacks of Using FastComet?

There are two possible drawbacks of using FastComet. Firstly, renewal rates go up significantly after the promotional period ends. Secondly, it doesn’t offer a free dedicated IP.

What Types of Hosting Does FastComet Offer?

FastComet offers 3 types of hosting: shared hosting, Cloud VPS hosting, and dedicated CPU servers. Each type comes in 4 tiers to cater to the resource needs of various individuals, businesses, and large enterprises.

It’s helpful to understand the features and limitations of these 3 types of hosting when choosing a FastComet plan.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting involves sharing server resources with other websites and this helps to keep costs lower. FastComet’s shared hosting offers 4 tiers: Starter, Essential, Plus, and Extra.

The Starter plan is the most economical option, and is competitively priced at $1.79 per month. It offers basic features including a single website, 10 GB NVMe storage, and a WordPress toolkit. Upgrading your plan unlocks more resources and advanced features such as a malware scanner, restore manager, and access to more development tools.

Cloud VPS Hosting

VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a type of hosting that provides dedicated server resources to multiple websites on a shared server, balancing cost with performance and control. FastComet’s cloud VPS hosting combines VPS hosting with fully SSD Cloud hosting infrastructure.

FastComet’s cloud VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting offers four scalable plans: Cloud 1, Cloud 2, Cloud 3, and Cloud 4. Prices start at $46.16 per month for Cloud 1, which includes a single CPU Virtual Core, 2 GB ECC RAM, 50 GB SSD storage, and 2 TB bandwidth. Each subsequent plan increases in CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth to cater to growing website needs, so there’s a suitable option for every stage of business expansion. All plans feature unlimited websites, always-on DDoS protection, and Imunify360 security.

Dedicated CPU Server Hosting

Dedicated server hosting is a type of hosting that rents an entire server for exclusive use, ensuring maximum control and performance. FastComet’s dedicated CPU servers are available in four configurations: DS 1, DS 2, DS 3, and DS 4.

DS 1 is their most affordable dedicated hosting plan, which starts at $107.06 per month. Users benefit from 2x AMD EPYC Cores, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB SSD Space, and 4 TB Bandwidth.

Each tier up provides additional cores, RAM, storage, and bandwidth to meet the scaling demands of enterprises. All dedicated plan users enjoy the advantage of hosting unlimited websites, alongside top-tier DDoS protection and Imunify360 security for unparalleled performance and safety.

Does FastComet Offer Windows Hosting?

No, FastComet does not offer Windows hosting of any kind. Windows hosting is a type of web hosting that uses servers that run Microsoft’s Windows operating system (OS). FastComet specialize exclusively in hosting solutions that run the Linux-based operating system.

How Much Does FastComet Cost?

FastComet’s plans cost $1.79 per month for basic shared hosting and go up to $268.76 per month for their most comprehensive dedicated server plan.

Keep in mind that these are FastComet’s introductory prices, which revert back to their regular prices upon plan renewal. FastComet does have a steep price renewal (from $1.79 to $8.95 per month), so it’s important to consider both the introductory and renewal prices when budgeting for hosting expenses over the long term.

Is It Better to Opt for Monthly or Annual Plans?

It is better to opt for annual plans with FastComet to maximize savings, especially given the introductory price offers. Annual plans allow you to lock in the lower rates for a full year. You save a significant amount compared to paying month-to-month, where the introductory price is only applied to the first month or billing cycle (before renewal).

Is FastComet Fast?

Yes, FastComet is fast. FastComet promises up to 70% faster website load times with the use of AMD EPYC™ processors, NVMe SSDs for storage, and a global network of data centers. Their hosting environment is also enhanced with LiteSpeed Enterprise Web Server for WordPress, which offers speeds 12x faster than NGINX and 84x faster than Apache.

Where Are FastComet’s Data Centers?

FastComet’s data centers are strategically situated in 12 locations across North and South America, Europe, India, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. The extensive network across Asia is rare and addresses the common challenge of finding reliable hosting with low latency for Asian markets. FastComet’s widespread network helps them deliver high-quality hosting services worldwide, and sets them apart in a market where many providers lack dedicated infrastructure in Asia.

Which Is the Best FastComet Server to Choose to Target Asia?

The best FastComet servers to choose to target Asia are their Singapore and Tokyo data centers. Singapore is especially ideal for targeting the Southeast Asian market since it’s well located at the crossroads of major internet routes. Singapore’s first-world network infrastructure also enables rapid and reliable data transfer in these areas. Choosing their Tokyo server is more optimal for East Asian countries as it offers optimized service and performance for this region.

What Is FastComet’s Uptime Guarantee?

FastComet has a 99.9% uptime guarantee. They do extensive website monitoring every 60 seconds from multiple global locations, and comprehensive service checks covering Mail, FTP, and MySQL. They offer compensation in the rare event of downtime, and credit 10% of the monthly fee for each hour of downtime, up to the total monthly payment.

What Control Panel Does FastComet Provide?

FastComet provides the cPanel control panel. cPanel is a widely used and user-friendly web hosting control panel that allows users to manage various aspects of their hosting services easily.

This includes setting up email accounts, managing databases, installing software applications, and monitoring website resources.

Does FastComet Provide a Free Website Builder?

Yes, FastComet provides their SiteBuilder website builder for free. SiteBuilder is designed to help users easily create and customize their websites.

It comes with over 350 templates and a true drag-and-drop interface. This enables users to design their sites without needing knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, or CSS. They also offer a choice of 40 widgets to build your site, including Image/Video sliders, Image Galleries, Audio and Google Maps.

Does FastComet Provide Unlimited Email Accounts?

Yes, FastComet provides unlimited email accounts for all its hosting plans except for the Starter and Essential shared plans. FastComet’s Plus and Extra plans provide unlimited email accounts for users requiring extensive email communication capabilities. The Starter plan only allows up to 5 email accounts, and the Essential plan permits up to 25 email accounts.

Does FastComet Provide Unlimited Databases?

Yes, FastComet provides unlimited databases for all their plans except the Starter and Essential shared plans. The Plus and Extra plans provide unlimited MySQL databases, ideal for larger websites, multiple applications, or those with significant database requirements.

Their Starter plan includes up to 5 MySQL databases which is suitable for small websites or projects. The Essential plan expands this offering to 25 MySQL databases to cater to websites with greater data management needs.

Does FastComet Give a Free Domain Name?

Yes, FastComet gives a free domain name with its hosting plans, and throws in a unique ‘free for life’ domain offer. This means the domain remains free for as long as you keep your hosting account with FastComet. It’s a significant benefit for those planning to maintain a long-term relationship with FastComet, since you save on domain renewal costs over time. Standard domain registration fees apply to keep the domain if you decide to cancel your FastComet hosting or not renew it.

What Are FastComet’s Nameservers?

FastComet’s nameservers connect domain names to the server IP addresses, and facilitate the resolution of hostnames to IP locations. The default nameservers provided by FastComet are formatted as follows:

FastComet allows customization for those preferring private nameservers, which is in the format:

To find your specific nameservers on FastComet, log into your account, navigate to the Client Area, and select Domains. Then, under ‘My Domains,’ choose ‘Manage Domain’ and ‘Nameservers’ to view your assigned nameservers.

Is FastComet Good for WordPress Sites?

Yes, FastComet is good for WordPress sites. The WordPress Toolkit included in their plans provides comprehensive tools such as website scanning and hardening, one-click staging and cloning, and password management. They also include automatic updates, WordPress integrity checks, and mass management capabilities.

FastComet also includes the WordPress LiteSpeed Cache (LSCWP) plugin in their Plus and Extra plans. LSCWP significantly accelerates website performance with its server-level cache and optimization features. Their Extra plan is also powered by LiteSpeed Enterprise Web Server, which delivers speeds 12 times faster than NGINX and Apache.

Does FastComet Offer Unmanaged WordPress Hosting?

No, FastComet does not offer unmanaged WordPress hosting. Their services are focused on managed WordPress hosting and the pricing includes these ongoing managed services by default.

Is FastComet Good for WooCommerce Sites?

Yes, FastComet is good for WooCommerce sites. WooCommerce sites are WordPress sites using the WooCommerce plug-in for eCommerce functionality. FastComet offers managed WooCommerce hosting plans designed to optimize online stores for high performance and security. These plans support the demands of online stores, such as handling high transaction volumes, managing extensive product catalogs, and ensuring secure checkout processes.

Is FastComet Secure?

Yes, FastComet is secure. Their FastGuard Hosting Security system defends against botnet attacks, exploits, malicious traffic, and DNS and HTTP/S DDoS attacks by enabling servers to learn from each incident and share this intelligence across a global defense network.

FastComet further secures accounts with the 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) options like Google Authenticator, LastPass, and Authy. It also ensures account isolation using a CloudLinux dedicated virtual environment. This significantly mitigates risks associated with shared hosting.

FastComet’s security infrastructure includes Imunify360 for network level defense (e.g. blocking malicious IPs and malware) and ModSecurity Web Application Firewall for application-level protection against common vulnerabilities such as SQL injections and XSS attacks.

Is a Free SSL Certificate Included?

Yes, a free SSL certificate is included in all their hosting plans. An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) secures website data and establishes trust with visitors by encrypting information transmitted between the user’s browser and the website. FastComet offers a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, but also provides options for upgraded security with certificates like Comodo SSL at $34.95 per year, and a wildcard SSL at $139.95 per year.

Is Cloudflare Included?

Yes, Cloudflare is included in FastComet’s hosting plans. Cloudflare is a service that enhances website performance and security by routing traffic globally to block threats and minimize load times. Users are able to activate FastComet’s complimentary Cloudflare CDN (Content Delivery Network) directly from their hosting control panel.

Are Backups Included?

Yes, backups are included in FastComet’s hosting plans. FastComet provides daily backups and stores up to 30 copies of your data offsite. This feature ensures that your website data is safely backed up away from the primary server. Offsite backups let users restore their website, databases, emails, or even SSL and DNS configurations through a point-and-click restore manager. This ensures data integrity and minimizes downtime in case of data loss.

Can I Get Root Access With FastComet?

Yes, you can get root access with FastComet, but it is granted only upon request. Root access is the highest level of access to a server and it allows full administrative control over all aspects of the server’s operating system and software.

FastComet only provides root access to clients who need it and understand the responsibilities it entails. Root access is not available for shared hosting plans since it has the potential to compromise server security and management. Clients with cloud VPS or dedicated server hosting plans are eligible to request for root access. This allows them to customize software installations, configuration settings, and overall server management to their requirements. FastComet emphasizes the careful use of root access due to its potential for causing significant changes to the server’s operation.

Is Node.js Supported?

Yes, Node.js is supported on FastComet’s hosting plans, with the exception of their Starter plan. Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform, JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript code outside a web browser.

Is Python Supported?

Yes, Python is supported on FastComet’s hosting plans. Python is a versatile and widely-used programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It offers a broad range of applications due to its extensive libraries and frameworks.

What Customer Support Does FastComet Offer?

FastComet provides 24/7/365 support and five customer support channels. Firstly, live chat service offers immediate help directly from their website. Secondly, phone support is available for clients who prefer speaking directly with a representative. Thirdly, the ticket system handles complex issues requiring detailed investigation through support tickets submitted via their client area. Fourthly, email support caters to non-urgent issues or those needing detailed explanations. Finally, the knowledge base includes tutorials, guides, and FAQs, offering quick solutions to common problems and information about FastComet’s services.

Do I Get Free Website Migration?

Yes, you get free website migration with FastComet. Their Express Transfer service provides a fast, seamless transition to their servers. This service is handled by experts and is included in all plans to guarantee no downtime during the transfer. To initiate the migration, submit a ticket via your Client Area with your FTP and control panel details. FastComet’s technical team then manages the entire process to ensure that your website is correctly migrated and configured on their hosting environment.

What Is FastComet Money Back Guarantee?

FastComet has a 45-day money back guarantee for their hosting services. This guarantee is longer than the industry standard of 30-days and allows you to try their hosting plans risk-free. FastHosting will fully refund your hosting fees as long as you cancel within the first 45 days of service.

How to Cancel FastComet Subscription

To cancel your FastComet subscription, follow nine steps. First, visit the FastComet website and log in to your account dashboard. Second, click in the empty gray area on the left to expand the left-hand menu bar items. Third, in the expanded menu, click on “Products.” Fourth, from the submenu, select “My Products” to view all your current hosting services. Fifth, next to the hosting service you wish to cancel, click on the “View Details” button on the right-hand side. Sixth, in the details page, find and click the “Request Cancellation” option at the bottom of the context menu. Seventh, you’re prompted to select when you want to cancel your services (either immediately or at the end of your billing period). Eighth, after choosing your cancellation timing, provide a reason for cancellation in the space provided and click the “Request Cancellation” link. Lastly, follow through the final screens to complete the cancellation process.

How Do I Get A Refund?

To start the refund process, log into your FastComet client area and request a cancellation. Your refund is then issued through the original payment method.

5 FastComet Alternatives

There are 5 FastComet alternatives that are worth looking at.

1. Hostinger

Hostinger offers more affordable hosting compared to FastComet, with excellent performance and a proprietary user-friendly control panel known as hPanel. FastComet provides a wide range of services and strong support, while Hostinger stands out for its quality and value for money. Learn more about Hostinger vs FastComet here.

2. SiteGround

SiteGround is known for its premium hosting solutions with prices higher than FastComet’s. It boasts exceptional reliability and speed as it leverages Google Cloud infrastructure. SiteGround is a strong contender for those prioritizing cutting-edge technology and robust features. Read more on the differences between FastComet and SiteGround here.

3. Bluehost

Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress and delivers good speeds, especially in the United States. Both Bluehost and FastComet offer cPanel. FastComet is noted for its diverse global server locations, which makes it a more solid choice for international users.

4. HostGator

HostGator stands out for user-friendly solutions and extensive feature sets suitable for both novice and advanced users, which contrasts with FastComet’s emphasis on advanced technical support and developer-friendly tools.

5. InMotion

InMotion excels in offering tailored business hosting services, with a strong emphasis on technical support and performance. Their solutions are particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses seeking dependable hosting. This sets them apart from FastComet’s broader, more varied hosting options that cater to a wide audience.

Does FastComet Have Any Discounts?

Yes, FastComet offers significant discounts through their introductory prices, with reductions of up to 80% off. These discounts provide an excellent opportunity for new customers to access their hosting services at substantially lower rates. Also keep an eye out for their Black Friday promotions, as FastComet always features special promos for new and existing customers during this annual event.

Verdict: Is FastComet Recommended?

FastComet is recommended for its comprehensive hosting solutions. They offer significant advantages such as a wide selection of global data center locations (especially in Asia) and extensive customer support channels. Their ‘free for life’ domain offer and strong security features further enhance their value proposition.

Potential users must still note the cons, such as the steep increase in renewal rates and the lack of a free dedicated IP. But despite these drawbacks, FastComet’s commitment to performance, security, and customer satisfaction makes them a worthy choice for those seeking dependable web hosting.

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