SiteGround vs InMotion: We Chose to Go Ahead With SiteGround!
We put these Webhosts to the test to find out which is the best!
In our previous two comparison articles — Bluehost vs. GoDaddy and Namecheap vs. Bluehost — we decided to give the verdict in the introduction itself. With this one, we kill the suspense right from the title.
Yes, we’d choose SiteGround over InMotion any given day. The reason? InMotion doesn’t offer anything special for the price, and at the same time, it lags behind SiteGround on essential aspects.
With this article, we intend to put SiteGround & InMotion in a cage and let both fights. The result will be decided based on the five crucial aspects of a web hosting service- features, ease of use, Performance, customer support, and value for money.
To cut to chase, 3...2...1...here we go!
How do these compare?
Vendor |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Features | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Ease of use | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Performance | 10/10 | 7/10 |
Support | 10/10 | 6/10 |
Value for money | 9/10 | 6/10 |
Cell |
SiteGround vs. InMotion: Features
The features a web hosting company packs can help you make a purchasing decision. If one doesn’t have the fundamental features, it’s a straight NO. Both SiteGround and InMotion are well-known entities of the hosting market, so it’s less likely that either missed the basic features. Therefore, this section’s winner will be based on what extras they have for you!
SiteGround
SiteGround is one of the most feature-rich, value web host in the business. We emphasized on its this quality in our full review. You get the following features on most of its cheapest web hosting plans- may it be from its shared, managed WordPress, e-commerce, or cloud hosting category:
WordPress-optimization: WP-CLI enabled
Free automatic backups
Free site migration
Free SSL certificate
Free CDN
Free professional email accounts
Top-notch security
Decent amount of high-performance storage
Website staging
Multiple data centers: Asia, USA, UK, Australia, Germany, and Europe
Support for all popular CMS including WordPress, Joomla, Magento, and more
Unmetered traffic
These are some great features! Especially, all the freebies make the deal among the most interesting for us.
InMotion
InMotion also comes with many, many features. Traditionally, it has been a more expensive option compared to SIteGround, but the recent hike prices by SiteGround makes it a head-to-head competitor. Its services include managed WordPress hosting, shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers. And the features in any of the plans include...
Free domain name (without domain privacy)
Free SSL certificate
Free website migration
Website staging
A website builder
More than needed storage
Unlimited bandwidth
Only two data centers, that too in the US.
Overall, InMotion too has a great set of features. It covers all the bases and provides a few freebies on top. Plus, unlike SiteGround, it allows multiple websites on its base plan.
Verdict
Both SiteGround and InMotion are well-equipped with features. Both offer plenty of storage, unlimited bandwidth, and freebies like site migration and SSL certificates. However, there are distinct features as well. InMotion offers a free domain name for one year and can equip more than one website on its base plan. In comparison, SiteGround provides a free CDN, data centers across continents, and automatic backup- all of which help in speed and security.
The extra speed and security are far more valuable than a free domain in our experience. Therefore, we believe SiteGround has a slight upper hand.
Winner: Siteground
SiteGround vs InMotion: Ease of use
For the sake of setting the context, here’s the statement we’d like to make: Both SiteGround and InMotion are commercial hosting providers. And they must have a straightforward process to everything — from signing up to managing the domains and emails — because the target audience is broad, consisting of tech-literate and tech-illiterate people alike. Let’s see how they fare on the UI/UX scale.
SiteGround
Setting up an account with SiteGround is fairly simple. Go to Siteground.com, choose the plan, enter your existing domain or buy a new one, fill in all the needed details (name, email, password, address, etc.), select the nearby data center, and pay.
Now, log in. From the dashboard, you can manage your account. On clicking the “manage account”, you will be directed to a page where all your websites are listed.
There, click on the “Go to Admin Panel” to access SiteGround’s control panel. SiteGround uses a control panel, which is much more intuitive and sleek than the widely-used cPanel. You can manage accounts, websites, services, billing, and more right from there.
Adding apps to your website, managing email accounts, files, databases, backups, SSL, staging sites, etc. is easy. Everything is categorized and labeled.
Overall, a lot of brains have been invested in making a flawless user experience throughout.
InMotion
Registering with InMotion is also straightforward. However, it’s comparatively more tiresome than with SiteGround. After selecting the plan, you have to choose data center and uncheck all the not-needed upsells. Then, enter your domain. And after that, you have to enter your details and billing information.
Once you are in, you can manage your account & website. The control panel InMotion uses is the old-school cPanel. No doubt, many prefer it, but after using the custom control panels from the likes of SiteGround & Hostinger, cPanel feels dated & bloated.
Functionality wise, though, cPanel offers everything one needs. You can manage files, emails, domains, scripts, databases, and more.
Everything considered, InMotion’s way of implementing UI & UX, is understandable. Obviously, anyone who knows to read English can manage it, but the experience isn’t the same as with the SiteGround.
Verdict
Both InMotion and SiteGround are easy to use. Signing up with InMotion is a bit more tedious, though, in our experience. Moreover, the interface & experience with SiteGround’s control panel felt more flawless & smooth compared to InMotion’s cPanel. Meaning-
Winner: SiteGround
SiteGround vs InMotion: Performance
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Uptime | 100% | 99.95% |
Server response time | 125 ms | 180 ms |
Loading time | 500 ms | 800 ms |
If there’s one thing you shouldn’t neglect while choosing a web hosting, it’s performance! Performance can make or break your website. A slight delay in loading speed or server response can highly affect your bounce rate (in other words, search engine rankings), CTR, and overall bottom-line. Furthermore, if the server is frequently down, similar effects can be noticed.
SiteGround
SiteGround is perhaps the best performing web host in the commercial market, especially when it comes to WordPress. We have tested it extensively, and here are the stats:
The average server response time measured 125 ms. 125 ms! That’s way under the Google recommended 200 ms limit.
The uptime stood at 100%! The server didn’t go down whatsoever.
The page loading speed was approx. 500-550 ms. This was measured on a text-only WordPress page.
These are some fantastic numbers!!
InMotion
We also tested InMotion on the same aspects. And what you might have figured from the title of this comparison is true- InMotion’s stats are relatively disappointing.
The average response time was approx. 180 ms, which isn’t bad at all but comparatively slower.
The loading speed was about 800 ms—similar feeling- not bad, but comparatively worse.
The uptime measured 99.95%.
These are good outputs. But many have proven to be better.
Verdict
You already know the result, so we wouldn’t waste your time. InMotion’s performance is good, but SiteGround’s is excellent.
Winner: SiteGround
SiteGround vs InMotion: Customer Support
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Support options | 24/7 live chat, emails, and phone support | Live chat, phone support, email tickets |
Knowledge base | Yes | Yes |
Quality of response | 10/10 | 6/10 |
Another aspect that is in the same weight class as Performance is customer support. In times of mishaps, most people’s only option is customer support. Excellent customer support can be defined based on the number of communication options the hosting company provides, and the response time & knowledge of the support staff.
SiteGround
SiteGround is known for its expert WordPress support, and we have witnessed it first hand.
First of all, you can simply scroll through its knowledge base to find answers to your basic queries. If you can’t, they have all types of communication options- 24/7 live chat, phone support, support tickets, and even social media.
In our experience, the support agents responded almost instantly when contacted via live chat. More importantly, they were knowledgeable and professional in their style of communicating. All in all, a 10/10 from us.
InMotion
Like SiteGround, InMotion boasts about its incredible customer support. In reality, it’s a hit or miss.
Indeed, it has all the ways to get in touch- live chat, phone support, emails, and tickets. However, sometimes they respond quickly, sometimes not; sometimes, the answers are concise, sometimes unsatisfactory. We also double-checked other people’s experience on TrustPilot, and many have been left unsatisfied.
Verdict
Both providers give multiple communication options. In our experience, SiteGround’s support agents responded quickly, were well-versed with everything needed, and professional all the way through. In contrast, InMotion’s agents were hit or miss — both in response time & expertise.
Winner: SiteGround
SiteGround vs. InMotion: Pricing
|
|---|
Introductory pricing (of base plan) $6.99/mo |
Renewal pricing: $14.99/mo |
Money-back guarantee 30 days |
VS
|
|---|
Introductory pricing (of base plan) $6.99/mo |
Renewal pricing: $11.90/mo |
Money-back guarantee 90 days |
We don’t need to tell you how important a factor pricing is. You are the consumer. You have a pre-defined budget. And you will not buy if the service isn’t “value for money.”
SiteGround
SiteGround used to cost half the price just a few months back, as you can see in our initial review. We implied it as a “steal deal” in that article. However, now, the prices for a 12-month plan has rose to $6.99/month, making it a good value hosting instead of a “steal deal.”
InMotion
The one-year plan for InMotion costs the same as SiteGround- $6.99/month. However, you can pay a lesser amount if you buy for the long term.
Verdict
Even though the InMotion’s cost can be slightly lower if invested for a longer tenure, the value SiteGround offers at the price is superior. Still, it depends on your priority. If you find SiteGround a bit expensive, we recommend looking at other options in our top web hosting providers list.
Winner: SiteGround
Siteground vs Inmotion: Conclusion
The Winner Is - SiteGround
You know it from the title itself — SiteGround is the obvious winner. Moreover, you know it from the article why it is so. SiteGround has better features, superior performance, excellent customer support, easy to use dashboard & control panel, and higher value for money.
It’s that simple. Buy SiteGround.
Total Score: 10/10
SiteGround Pros
Starts from
$3.95
per month
• Uptime 99.99%
• Free SSL Certificate
•Officially recommended by WordPress