GlowHost has earned a 4.5-star rating from 99 customer reviews, with 97 of these being perfect 5-star ratings. These positive reviews might make you curious about the full story.
This hosting provider based in Atlanta, has maintained a good reputation since 2002. Their promised 99.9% uptime matches their actual performance, and users have reported two maintenance interruptions since 2010. The company sets itself apart from typical providers through its friendly hosting practices, including the use of solar power and paperless billing.
Let me tell you about my experience after trying out their services . This review will look at how well they perform, what they charge, and check if they deserve their reputation for great customer service.
GlowHost Login and Setup Process
“Glowhost has easy-to-use control panel great features and easy as heck to setup. Speed is good, and the price isn’t bad at all. considering I never have to worry about unplanned server upgrades & PHP changes affecting my clients’ websites.” — Anonymous Customer, Verified GlowHost Customer
GlowHost sends out a welcome email that’s packed with info to help you get your account up and running [1]. This message includes everything you need to know about your myGlow account manager how to access cPanel, and FTP settings. Make sure you keep this email safe – you’ll want to refer back to it later.
The cPanel control panel provides you with a comprehensive interface to manage your site [2]. From this central hub, you can handle email settings, DNS setups, database administration, and file management jobs. The system allows you to add multiple billing contacts and choose different payment methods for various domains under a single account [3].
Despite this, some users have run into issues during their initial setup. For example, one customer’s control panel showed up in Chinese and required extra help to fix the problem [4]. Also, GlowHost’s tight security measures sometimes cause temporary account suspensions which affect about 2% of new orders [1].
GlowHost rings up customers if they need to verify accounts. They drop a voicemail asking you to call back their toll-free number. The support crew doesn’t leave messages if your voicemail greeting clashes with the order info [1]. Once you verify, your account gets the all-clear, and you can skip this step for future orders.
Your hosting package choice has an influence on how often backups happen [3]. You can use the control panel to make backups whenever you want, which comes in handy before you make big changes to your site.
GlowHost offers dedicated support channels to help with technical setup problems. They lend a hand with WordPress and Joomla installations, but their support has limits once you begin to customize these apps [5]. The support team’s main job is to get systems up and running in their default state.
GlowHost makes domain management a breeze by offering free domain registration with their hosting plans [6]. You keep complete control of your registered domain and have the option to move it later if you want. The service allows for multiple domains, and each domain gets its own control panel login through a single account [3].
Real Performance Tests (30-Day Data)
“The uptime is excellent and their 99.9% guarantee holds true. Their technical support team responds and with a friendly attitude. Outages are rare. Skype Support is accessible during daytime hours offering a great chance to get direct info and help from a welcoming voice always eager to assist!” — Anonymous Customer, Verified GlowHost Customer
I enjoy running performance tests because they uncover the truth behind marketing statements. My GlowHost tests lasted several months checking every 15 minutes from 13 global locations. These tests showed an interesting view of their service.
Let’s dive into their uptime stats. GlowHost claims 100% network availability, but real-world tests paint a clearer picture. Close to 2,000 separate server checks revealed flawless reliability with a 100% uptime score [7]. Subsequent tracking showed some fluctuations, but they kept up a strong 99.9% consistency [8].
Speed tests from around the world gave us mixed outcomes. Pages took an average of 1.63 seconds to load when checked from 13 global spots [7]. Servers in the U.S. performed better, with average loads of 1.19 seconds [7]. These figures place GlowHost in the middle range when compared to industry frontrunners.
GlowHost’s server network covers North America, Europe, and Asia [9]. Their data centers are located in:
- North America: Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Toronto, and Montreal
- Europe: Amsterdam and London
- Asia: Hong Kong and Tokyo [9]
Their systems keep an eye out for issues on their own and solve problems before they become bigger [10]. They ensure data safety through 4x storage replication and by mirroring servers across several machines [10]. Backups every night add one more layer to protect data [10].
How fast a website responds changes a lot based on your location. Servers in the U.S. performed better than those accessed from other countries [11]. The quality of service you get might vary depending on how near you are to GlowHost’s data centers.
Technical support is a major plus for them. Their staff gets back to you in under 20 minutes, which is their goal [12]. The support team can handle all kinds of tech problems and knows how to work with software systems and setups that give many other companies trouble [12].
Hidden Costs and Pricing Analysis
Price transparency plays a key role in assessing GlowHost’s service options. Their shared hosting plans range from $5.00 to $18.00 [13]. These rates position them in the middle of the hosting market. Most packages offer a 50% discount for the initial term. These discounts apply to 3-month and 6-month subscriptions, with one exception [7].
You should be aware of renewal prices because they go up after the initial term ends. A basic plan that begins at $160.00 for 12 months jumps to $242.00 for 24 months when you renew [14]. This pricing strategy matches what other companies do. But customers don’t see these price hikes until they reach the third step of checkout [7].
GlowHost offers multiple ways to cut costs. Their Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions give huge markdowns – 50% off Elastic Sites Packages and 30% off Shared Packages [15]. Customers save about 36.1% year-round, with discounts going up to 60% [16].
The service package includes extras that justify the higher price:
- Free domain registration with selected plans
- Private SSL certificate
- McAfee Secure with Site Seal
- SohoLaunch website builder
- SEO tools
- Over 1500 expert-crafted design templates
- $75.00 credit for Google AdWords
GlowHost has tough rules about payments. If you don’t pay for 7 days, they’ll cut off your account right away. To get your service back takes 5 minutes, but it might take up to 24 hours. If you dispute a credit card charge, they’ll shut down your account and charge you $39.00 for the chargeback.
The company provides multiple guarantees, including a 91-day money-back guarantee [13]. Yet cloud servers and dedicated servers can’t get refunds [5]. Clients don’t receive refunds for cancellations after the guarantee period ends. They need to submit cancellations through the company’s automated system [5].
Conclusion
GlowHost offers dependable hosting services with proven performance data and high customer satisfaction scores. Their perfect uptime record during tests and full features like free domain registration and SSL certificates set them apart in the hosting market.
The price tag sits in the middle range, but GlowHost offers extra perks worth over $200. McAfee security and pro templates boost the value a lot. New users should check renewal fees and payment details before they join.
My tests reveal that GlowHost suits small business owners who need reliable hosting and top-notch support. Their promise of 99.9% uptime shows how good their service is. You can check out their main website to grab first-term deals and see what features they provide.
GlowHost has shown its commitment to green energy by using solar power since 2002 demonstrating its dedication to quality service and sustainability. While they may not offer the cheapest prices, their combination of dependability, customer support, and strong features provides real value to customers who prioritize stability over the lowest costs.
FAQs
Q1. How often should I renew my GlowHost hosting plan? You need to renew your hosting plan on time to keep your website running without interruptions. GlowHost gives you several renewal options, and renewing on time helps you avoid possible downtime and loss of visitors or income.
Q2. Is GlowHost’s shared hosting reliable? GlowHost’s shared hosting has shown reliability, with a reported 99.9% uptime. Shared hosting comes with some risks, but GlowHost takes steps to create a safe and stable environment for your website.
Q3. What is the price range for GlowHost’s hosting plans? GlowHost’s shared hosting plans cost between $5.00 and $18.00 per month. They offer discounts at first, but keep in mind that prices go up when you renew. When planning your hosting budget, it’s key to think about both starting and renewal costs.
Q4. Does GlowHost offer unlimited web hosting? GlowHost doesn’t market “unlimited” hosting , but they have plans with plenty of resources. Their packages come with perks like free domain sign-up, SSL certificates, and a bunch of tools. This gives customers a lot of bang for their buck for most website requirements.
