When comparing SiteGround vs InMotion Hosting, we find SiteGround to be the better web host overall.
SiteGround excels in delivering fast global server response times through its larger network of global data centers. It’s ideal for businesses with global audiences. It also provides fantastic security features which suit websites prioritizing reliability. InMotion Hosting offers good performance and a wider range of hosting plans, but some of its best tools are limited to higher plans only. Its limited global reach also makes it less versatile than SiteGround.
In this article, we compare SiteGround vs InMotion Hosting on the grounds of plans, pricing, features included and performance. We also compare their data center coverage, software supported, developer tools, customer support, and security features. Finally, we answer the question of “SiteGround vs InMotion Hosting: Which is better for you?”
Plans
| Hosting Plan Type | SiteGround (US$ /month) | InMotion Hosting (US$ /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $3.99 – $10.69 | $2.29 – $9.49 |
| VPS Hosting | Not Available | $2.79 – $9.99 |
| WordPress Hosting | $3.99 – $10.69 | $9.99 – $44.99 |
| Cloud Hosting | $100 – $400 | Not Available |
| Dedicated Hosting | Not Available | $35.00 – $249.99 |
| Reseller Hosting | $6.69 – $100 | $13.99 – $59.99 |
| Managed Hosting Available? | Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, WordPress Hosting | All plans |
SiteGround offers 4 types of hosting and these are Shared, WordPress, Cloud, and Reseller Hosting. InMotion Hosting offers 5 types of hosting and these are Shared, Virtual Private Server, WordPress, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting. SiteGround does not offer VPS or Dedicated Hosting but provides a robust cloud hosting option. InMotion Hosting does cater to users needing VPS and Dedicated Hosting, unlike SiteGround.
Pricing
| Pricing Type | SiteGround (US$ /month) | InMotion Hosting (US$ /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Price | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| Renewal Price | $17.99 | $10.99 |
| Monthly Payment Option | Yes | Yes |
SiteGround and InMotion Hosting both start their plans at $2.99/month. However, SiteGround’s renewal price increases to $17.99/month, compared to InMotion Hosting’s $10.99/month. This significant difference highlights SiteGround’s positioning in the premium pricing category, particularly after the initial contract term has elapsed. Users need to be aware of this when planning long-term hosting since the initial discount may lead to higher costs later. InMotion Hosting’s more consistent pricing makes it a good choice for budget-conscious users who value long-term affordability.
Features Included
| Feature | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Space | 10GB SSD | 100GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unlimited |
| Number of Websites | 1 | 2 |
| Free Email Hosting | Unlimited accounts | 10 email addresses |
| Free Domain | No | Yes |
| AI Website Builder | No (Weebly only) | No (regular WordPress site builder only) |
| Unlimited Storage? | No | Higher plans |
| Unlimited/Unmetered Bandwidth? | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Features | Automated updates, custom tools with managed WordPress plans, Advanced priority support, Ability to add collaborators | Marketing tools including free advertising credits, customer management tools |
SiteGround’s cheapest plan offers 10GB SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, and support for one website. InMotion Hosting’s cheapest plan starts at the same price but provides a more generous 100GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and support for two websites. InMotion Hosting also offers a free domain for the first year, which SiteGround does not.
SiteGround’s advantages lie in its managed WordPress hosting features, such as automated updates and priority support, which are particularly beneficial for WordPress users. They also include unlimited email hosting, whereas InMotion Hosting limits email hosting to 10 addresses. However, SiteGround’s generally limited resources on lower-tier plans may be a drawback for some users, especially when compared to InMotion Hosting’s more generous allocations.
Performance
| Performance Feature | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Yes, inhouse (SiteGround CDN) | No |
| Type of SSD Server | SSD | SSD |
| Caching | Yes | Higher plans |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Additional Performance Features | NGINX-based static and dynamic cache, Out-of-the-box SuperCacher, Google Cloud infrastructure | UltraStack powered hosting, NVMe SSD on their Launch plans and higher |
SiteGround provides an in-house CDN (Content Delivery Network) whilst InMotion Hosting does not. SiteGround combines this with NGINX-based static and dynamic caching to ensure fast load times globally. Its SuperCacher tool and integration with Google Cloud’s network infrastructure further enhance performance and are particularly great for users with a global audience.
InMotion Hosting also offers solid performance through UltraStack powered hosting. However they reserve certain speed-enhancing features like caching in higher plans only. One advantage InMotion Hosting has over SiteGround is that they offer the option of NVMe SSDs on higher-tier plans.
Data Center Coverage
| Geographical Coverage | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Data Centers | 11 | 3 |
| HQ Location | Sofia, Bulgaria | Virginia, United States |
| Data Center Locations | USA (Iowa, Virginia, Texas, California), Netherlands (Eemshaven), UK (London), Germany (Frankfurt), France (Paris), Spain (Madrid), Australia (Sydney), Singapore | USA (Los Angeles, California; Ashburn, Virginia), Netherlands (Amsterdam) |
SiteGround operates 11 data centers across various locations in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia, offering extensive global coverage. This wide distribution ensures fast server response times worldwide and makes it ideal for businesses with global audiences. InMotion Hosting has only 3 data centers located in the USA and Europe, specifically in Los Angeles, Virginia, and Amsterdam. While InMotion Hosting’s data centers are strategically located to serve customers in both the US and Europe, its limited global presence may impact speeds for users targeting audiences outside of North America.
Software Supported
| Software Feature | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Control Panel | Site Tools (proprietary) | cPanel |
| 1-Click WordPress | Yes | Yes |
| OS Supported | Linux | Linux |
SiteGround uses its proprietary control panel, Site Tools, which is tailored specifically to its platform, offering a user-friendly interface designed for efficiency. InMotion Hosting uses the more universally known cPanel, making it familiar to users who have prior experience with web hosting. Both hosts support Linux exclusively and do not support the Windows hosting system. Both hosts offer 1-click WordPress installations.
Developer Tools
| Developer Tool | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Staging Tools | Higher plans | Higher plans |
| Root Access | No | On request (VPS and dedicated plans) |
| GIT Access | Yes | Yes |
| WP-CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Cron Jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple PHP Versions | Yes | Yes |
| SSH | Yes | Yes |
| Node.js Support | No | Yes |
| Python Support | Yes | Yes |
| Java Support | No | No |
| Django Support | No | Yes |
| Perl Support | Yes | Yes |
| Ruby on Rails Support | No | Yes |
| ASP.NET | No | No |
Both SiteGround and InMotion Hosting offer essential developer tools like GIT access, WP-CLI, and multiple PHP versions. InMotion Hosting provides additional support for Node.js, Django, and Ruby on Rails, which SiteGround does not. Both provide staging tools only on higher plans. InMotion Hosting gives users the added benefit of root access available on request for VPS and dedicated plans. This makes InMotion Hosting a more flexible option for developers needing these specific permissions.
Customer Support
| Customer Support Feature | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Support Methods | Live chat, phone support, helpdesk tickets | Chat, email, phone support |
| Support Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Website Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 90 days |
Both SiteGround and InMotion Hosting offer 24/7 customer support, including live chat and phone support. Both hosts offer free website migration services to make it easy to switch to their platforms. However, InMotion Hosting provides a more generous 90-day money-back guarantee compared to SiteGround’s 30-day guarantee. This means InMotion Hosting customers get more time to evaluate their services.
Security Features
| Security Feature | SiteGround | InMotion Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Automatic daily backups | Automatic (daily, weekly, custom) |
| DDoS Protection | Yes, in-house | Yes, Corero |
| Firewalls | Yes | Yes |
| Proactive Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Unique Security Features | Custom WAF, AI Anti-Bot System | Monarx Security ($19.99 value) |
Both SiteGround and InMotion Hosting provide robust security features, including free SSL certificates, automatic backups, DDoS protection, firewalls, and proactive monitoring. SiteGround stands out with its in-house DDoS protection and advanced security through its Custom WAF and AI Anti-Bot System designed to enhance protection against malicious traffic. InMotion Hosting leverages Corero for DDoS protection and offers Monarx Security as a unique feature, providing additional security that’s valued for $19.99 value, for free. While both hosts offer strong security, SiteGround’s integrated security approach may be more appealing to users looking for comprehensive, out-of-the-box protection.
SiteGround Vs InMotion Hosting: Which Is Better For You?
SiteGround is the better host for most use cases. Use SiteGround for WordPress sites, particularly blogs, portfolios, and small eCommerce websites needing managed hosting. Also use SiteGround if you are targeting audiences in Europe, Asia, or Australia since it offers data centers in these regions whilst InMotion Hosting does not. SiteGround’s advanced security features also make it perfect for security-conscious sites that need to handle transactions or sensitive data. Additionally, SiteGround’s performance tools and proven rapid load times make it suitable for multimedia-heavy websites and growing eCommerce sites that prioritize speed.
Use InMotion Hosting if you’re looking for VPS or dedicated server hosting for your site. InMotion Hosting’s VPS hosting is ideal for sites that require more resources and flexibility, including larger eCommerce sites, membership sites, or forums. InMotion’s 90-day money-back guarantee is one of the most generous we have seen in the web hosting market. This makes InMotion Hosting perfect for businesses with careful budgets and non-profit websites wanting to test performance and reliability over an extended period.
Dive into more web hosting comparisons here.
Who is SiteGround?
SiteGround is a web host company founded in 2004 in Sofia, Bulgaria. They provide managed shared hosting, WordPress hosting, cloud hosting and reseller hosting. SiteGround’s key strengths include fast load times, 11 global data centers, excellent customer support and advanced security features. Its higher renewal prices and limited resources on entry-level plans need to be kept in mind. Learn more about the brand in our SiteGround analysis.
Who is InMotion Hosting?
InMotion Hosting is a web host established in 2001 and based in Virginia, USA. They provide Shared Hosting, Reseller Hosting, WordPress Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Hosting. InMotion’s key selling points include fast server speeds and comprehensive customer support. However, its limited global data center presence and some advanced features are only available on higher plans. Check our InMotion Hosting writeup to learn more.