HostArmada Review (June 2023) – After Using For 2 Years

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About HostArmada

HostArmada is a US-based company, formed in 2019. This is a new web hosting company with affordable prices and offers a wide range of web hosting types.

The employees of HostArmada have vast experience in web hosting, as most of them have worked in reputed companies like FastComet and HostPapa. And most of them are from Bulgaria.

This implies that the team from FastComet having experience in web hosting formed a new company. FastComet is a well-established company that provides reliable hosting.

HostArmada Features Overview

Speed	Web Warp – 1.18 s (India), 2.66 s (US) Speed Reaper – 985.93 ms (India), 3.16 s (US)
Uptime (last 365 days)	Web Warp Plan: 99.97% Speed Reaper Plan: 99.97%
Backup and Restoration	Free daily backups for all the plans
Website Migration	Start Dock plan – 1 free migration Web Warp plan – 3 free migrations Speed Reaper plan – 5 free migrations
Security	Free SSL for all domains, Immunify 360, Backup and Restoration, Firewall
Support	Live chat, Knowledge Base, Email Tickets
Payment Options	Credit Card, PayPal
Pricing	Starting from $2.99/month (appr Rs.245)
Hosting Plans	Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Hosting
Refund Policy	45-days Refund Policy

HostArmada Video Review

People interested in video reviews can watch this HostArmada review video in Hindi (English subtitles available).

HostArmada User Interface

The interface is easy to navigate and includes cPanel, a control panel to manage the websites. Under the dashboard, you get the details of your plans, domains, support tickets, and cPanel to control your plans. 

cPanel

Similar to other popular web hosts like GreenGeeks, ChemiCloud, FastComet, and A2 Hosting, HostArmada comes with the traditional cPanel. With cPanel, you get all the control options for your websites. You can manage the backups, email settings, databases, files, and domains.

You can install additional software, and security tools and you get the statistics on the server resources used by your website.

Ease of Use

HostArmada’s user interface is easy to use, with standard naming for ease of understanding. Under the dashboard, you will get the details of your plans with cPanel.

And under ‘My Account’, you can access the account details with payment methods, and security settings and manage your plans here.

Testing Parameters

For this review, I have purchased two different plans of Cloud SSD Shared Hosting, with servers in Bangalore, India – the Web Warp plan and the Speed Reaper plan.

Both plans use Apache servers and include features like daily backups, unlimited websites, free domain registration/transfer, and free SSL certificates for all domains.  

For both websites, I’ve used the following settings.

• OceanWP theme (Elementor based)
• Gym template 
• Bangalore servers

Apart from this, I have used the Cache-Enabler and Autoptimize cache plugins for the Web Warp plan, and Litespeed cache for the Speed Reaper plan.

HostArmada Server Response Time

Server response time refers to the time taken by the server to respond to the request for the website by a user. 

I tested the server response time for both plans and found the results quite pleasing. 

For the Web Warp plan, the server response time was 5 ms for the Mumbai server. With the data centre in India, you can expect a quick server response. Hence, the response time was slowest for US servers (254 ms to 329 ms). And it is 60 ms for the Singapore server. 

The Speed Reaper plan server has a similar server response time. For the Mumbai server, the response time is 2 ms with this plan. The response time for the US server is 245 ms. And 59 ms for the Singapore server.

Overall, I have no complaints about the server response time. Both the plans got decent results, with Speed Reaper giving quicker server response time among the two. This is pretty good compared to the BlueHost servers.

HostArmada Speeds

Next, I conducted website speed tests from different servers to check how fast my websites on both plans loaded.

Indian Servers

When I tested both websites from the Bangalore region, these were the results. The website hosted on the Web Warp plan took 1.18 sec to load.

At the time of the speed test, the cache plugins Cache-Enabler and Autoptimize were active on this site.

Whereas, the Speed Reaper server loaded the website super swiftly, in 985.93 ms. This was without tuning up my website with any cache plugins and other tools.

US Servers

Whereas, when I checked the speeds of my website on the Web Warp plan from the New York location, it loaded in 2.66 sec. This is slightly slower.

On testing the speeds of the Speed Reaper plan from the New York location, these were the results.

My website took 3.16 seconds to load, which is honestly a little slow. But considering the servers are in Bangalore, this is still decent.

Overall, both servers performed well in the speed test and I am satisfied with the results. 

HostArmada Uptime

Website Uptime is the time duration for which a website remains online and is accessible by the users.

Good uptime can help your website to gain more users and increase your reach. Whereas, a bad uptime often results in the loss of your users and this affects your business. The ideal website uptime is around 99.99%.

I have been testing the uptime of both the HostArmada plans for the last 365 days using the Better Uptime tool. This tool monitors the uptime of my websites every 30 seconds.

Last 12 months Average Uptime: Web Warp Plan

Here’s the Uptime Status Report for HostArmada Web Warp Plan (Indian servers) for the last 365 days.

May 2023	99.89%
April 2023	99.99%
March 2023	99.97%
February 2023	100%
January 2023	99.99%
December 2022	100%
November 2022	100%
October 2022	100%
September 2022	100%
August 2022	99.99%
July 2022	99.99%
June 2022	99.94%
May 2022	99.96%
April 2022	99.91%
March 2022	99.77%

The average uptime in the last 12 months has been 99.97%, and 100% in the last 30 days. This is really commendable. They have shown significant improvements since the last year.

I got an email from HostArmada, stating that the Indian servers have been upgraded with many changes. Since getting the mail, my uptime has been close to 100% since July 2022. 

Last 12 months Average Uptime: Speed Reaper Plan

Here’s the Uptime Status Report for HostArmada Speed Reaper Plan (Indian servers) for the last 365 days.

May 2023	100%
April 2023	100%
March 2023	99.99%
February 2023	100%
January 2023	99.99%
December 2022	99.97%
November 2022	100%
October 2022	100%
September 2022	100%
August 2022	99.97%
July 2022	99.92%
June 2022	99.88%
May 2022	99.93%
April 2022	100%
March 2022	99.97%

The average uptime for the Speed Reaper plan for the last 365 days was 99.97%. And it has been a solid 100% in the last 30 days.

Overall, the uptime results of both the HostArmada plans were exceptional and I was highly impressed with their performance.

HostArmada Load Test

With load tests, we can gain information on the performance and efficiency of the server, and the maximum load the server can take. 

Here, I sent 50 real virtual users from the Mumbai location over to both websites. This was done to test how the servers manage the load in case of traffic spikes in real users. 

Web Warp Plan

The 50 virtual users made a total of 9335 requests with no request failures. The average response time stood at 7 ms, and the peak requests touched 49.67 req/sec. 

Overall, the Web Warp plan managed to handle the load really well.

Speed Reaper Plan

The Speed Reaper server was using the LiteSpeed cache plugin. On load testing, it made a total of 9348 requests and there were no HTTP failures. The peak response time stood at 6 ms and the peak requests reached 49.33 req/sec.

Overall, the load management of the Speed Reaper plan was also excellent.

These plans work on the Apache servers. But if you prefer the LiteSpeed servers, then read my Hostinger Review, as they provide better service on LiteSpeed servers. 

Cache Plugins

HostArmada offers an inbuilt cache commander to manage the cache plugins. With the Web Warp plan, you get the basic cache plugin of the server. 

However, with the Speed Reaper plan, you get advanced-cache plugins like Memcached, APC, and OpCache. You can control the cache plugins using the cPanel.

Using these cache plugins leads to faster loading times and improves the performance of your website. This is best for eCommerce websites expecting huge amounts of traffic.

HostArmada Data Centers

HostArmada has 9 data centers across the globe. Here is the list of the data centers:

• Fremont, California, USA
• Dallas, Texas, USA
• Newark, New Jersey, USA
• Toronto, Ontario, CA
• London, United Kingdom
• Frankfurt, Germany
• Mumbai, India
• Singapore, Singapore
• Sydney, Australia

HostArmada Backups

HostArmada provides backup for all the plans in shared hosting. And the backups are done off-server.

Under the ‘JETBACKUP’ section, you have file backups, database backups, and email backups. However, there is no option for manual backup. You need to ask the support team for manual backup or create a ticket for the same.

You can restore all the files and databases, but you have to do this separately, not together. 

HostArmada backups are stored for the following number of days according to your plan selected.

• Start Dock Plan: 7 days
• Web Warp Plan: 14 days
• Speed Reaper Plan: 21 days

HostArmada Support

You get 24/7 live chat support with quick replies and the website has a decent knowledge base.

My experience with the customer support team has been good. The support is quick, knowledgeable, technical, and on-point.

In one scenario, they offered to change the speed settings for cache plugins to improve my WordPress website. Very few hosting providers help you in this way with the shared hosting plan.  

But one thing that I didn’t like is that the support won’t create a ticket on your behalf. You have to do it yourself. Support of many hosting companies creates a ticket on your behalf. I hope they implement this function in the future.

Overall, the support was excellent and very helpful and beginners won’t have any problem getting their queries resolved with them.

HostArmada Inode Count

Inode count refers to the total number of files present on your website. This includes emails, files, folders, and everything that you store on the server.

Every time you upload a new file or receive an email, the inode count increases by one. HostArmada offers a decent inode count for shared hosting plans.

• Start Dock – 250k inodes
• Web Warp – 350k inodes
• Speed Reaper – 500k inodes

However, if you wish to have no restrictions on the number of inodes, you can try Rocket.net hosting.

HostArmada Pricing & Plans

Following are the different pricing plans of HostArmada hosting.

Shared Hosting

HostArmada Shared Hosting plans start from $2.99/month when purchased for 3 years.  

Features include unmetered bandwidth, free SSL for all domains, daily backups, and unlimited sub-domains and databases.

Here’s a table comparing the major features of the HostArmada Shared hosting plans.

	Start Dock	Web Warp	Speed Reaper
Pricing (3 yrs)	$2.99/month	$4.49/month	$5.39/month
Websites	1	Unlimited	Unlimited
SSD Storage	15 GB	30 GB	40 GB
CPU Cores	2	4	6
RAM	2 GB	4 GB	6 GB
Daily Backups	7	14	21

VPS Hosting

There are four plans for VPS Hosting starting from $41.21/month.

FIts major features include good storage, daily backups, and the privacy of a private server.

Dedicated Hosting

Websites with huge traffic and global audience require a dedicated server. You can choose HostArmada’s Dedicated Hosting for this.

It is expensive with its plans starting from $111.75/month. 

HostArmada Payment Options

With HostArmada, you only get to make payments using International Credit and Debit Cards along with PayPal. If you want Indian payment options, check out Bluehost and Hostinger.

HostArmada Refund Policy

Similar to ChemiCloud, HostArmada has a 45-day money-back guarantee for shared hosting and a 7-day money-back guarantee for VPS and dedicated hosting. 

You can try out any plan of your choice and if not satisfied with their service, you can request a refund during this period (45 days). 

HostArmada Discount Coupon Code

If you are planning to buy web hosting from HostArmada, then here is a surprise from my side. This is a chance for you to get your favorite hosting plan for the cheapest price. Here’s how to claim it.

1. Visit the HostArmada official website and choose the plan of your choice.
2. Apply my special coupon code ‘KRIPESH75’ at checkout to claim 75% off!

HostArmada Domains

HostArmada also works as a domain name registrar. So, you can purchase new domains from them. The .com domain extension starts from $11.99/year. It has a huge domain extensions directory and the rates are standard.

I have published an article on the process of buying a domain from GoDaddy with the UPI payment method. Check it if you prefer payments methods like UPI, debit cards, digital wallets and other online payment methods.

Although, if you haven’t decided on a name for your blog or website yet, you can try out these domain name generators for some fresh ideas.

Additional Features

Migrations

You get three free website migrations with the Web Warp plan. And they include five free website migrations in the Speed Reaper plan. The Start Dock plan includes only one website transfer.

You can also check out ChemiCloud for upto 50 cPanel migrations, or Rocket.net and Scala Hosting for unlimited migrations!

CDN

Unfortunately, there is no option for CDN with HostArmada. 

Site Builder

The Site Builder provided by HostArmada is SitePad and it is a decent site builder that is easy to use. It is a drag-and-drop site builder with many features and integrations. 

Security

HostArmada offers a variety of security tools for its users. They have taken several security measures to ensure the safety of your websites. These include firewall protection, malware protection, Brute-Force protection and more reliable security features.

SSL

HostArmada provides a free SSL certificate for each of your domains. 

Immunify 360

Immunify 360 is a malware detection security tool provided by HostArmada at the server level. This means you can’t control it and would have to request support to run the scans on your website.

Website Restoration

Every device connected to the internet is exposed to hacking. In case your website or the server gets hacked, HostArmada has a website restoration option through which you can restore your website. 

Technology Used in HostArmada

HostArmada uses Apache NGINX and LiteSpeed servers for web hosting helping your websites with great speeds and performance. Litespeed servers are the fastest and are also used by ChemiCloud, A2 Hosting, StableHost, and Rocket.net.

It also supports several programming software and languages. Developers will love these options supported to build a website. Below is the detailed list of these:

HostArmada Pros

1. Swift Speed

HostArmada has multiple data centers around the globe and works on Litespeed servers, This is why you can experience fast loading speeds, even in Indian regions.

2. Good Load Management

Both the Web Warp and Speed Reaper plans performed well for load management. They maintained a stable response time without any request failures and spikes in response time.

3. Reliable Uptime

In the past years, their Indian data centers have undergone a lot of improvements. In my last 365 days, my website has been up for 99.97% of the time, which is excellent.

4. Feature Rich 

HostArmada offers a range of features like cPanel support, daily backups, unmetered bandwidth, and many security features. You get Immunify 360, firewalls for your website, a free SSL certificate for all your domains, and other additional tools. 

4. Data Centers

HostArmada has 9 data centers across the globe. Having these many data centers gives them a speed and performance advantage with their user base in different locations. 

5. Good Site Builder

SitePad is a drag-and-drop website builder with over 700 themes and includes many widgets. By using SitePad, you can build and edit your website with no coding knowledge. 

6. Excellent Support

HostArmada’s customer support is excellent and you get 24/7 live chat support. The replies are quick and specific. The website also has an informative knowledge base with solutions to different problems. 

HostArmada Cons

1. New Company

Founded in 2019, HostArmada still is a new player in the hosting industry. Though they are making constant improvements in their services, they still need some time to establish themselves in the market as of now.

Should You Trust This New Company?

I have seen several new companies come into the market and leave within 2 years of their service. This might not be the case with all of them. But to be on the safer side, it is better to wait before opting for a hosting service with any new company.

I had a pleasant experience with HostArmada’s support team. They have made some significant speed and performance improvements in the past year. However, I would still recommend you back up your files on an external server or cloud storage (Google Drive) when going for HostArmada. 

And considering that HostArmada is a new company and has less load now on their servers, it is best to buy for 1 year and check if they maintain the same quality in the future. My best plan recommendation would be the Web Warp Shared Hosting plan for 1 year.

HostArmada Alternatives

Hostinger

Hostinger is an affordable web host offering good speeds, attractive UI, free migrations, and top-notch security. However, unlike HostArmada, it also offers Indian payment options along with GST invoices.

Hostinger is the cheapest and most affordable hosting solution with its plans starting from just ₹69/month! You can also use my link and enter the coupon code KRIPESH to get an extra 10% off on your purchase.

ChemiCloud

ChemiCloud is a renowned web host that comes with swift speeds and reliable uptime. Unlike HostArmada, it features Litespeed servers that guarantee better performance.

Along with that, ChemiCloud also offers good load management and helpful support. Some striking features that make it stand apart are 200 free cPanel migrations and a 45-day refund policy. Its pricing plans start from $3.95/month.

You can also use my link and use the coupon code CCKRIPESHYT at checkout to avail of additional discounts on your purchase.

FastComet

FastComet is another popular hosting provider that offers super swift speeds, impressive support, and load management, just like HostArmada.

What differentiates it from HostArmada is its CDN support, 45-day money-back guarantee, and a fixed discount percentage on all durations. The pricing plans of FastComet start from $2.95/month.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HostArmada is a feature-packed web hosting solution. It offers Indian data centers and swift speeds, along with good uptime and load management. Though they’re still new, the improvements they’ve made since the last year are pretty impressive.

Their customer support is knowledgeable and very helpful. HostArmada features affordable pricing plans and looks like a value-for-money option if your priority is website performance.

I hope you found this HostArmada review helpful in deciding if this hosting is the right fit for you. Have you used this hosting before? How was your experience? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Anyway, this is Kripesh signing off. I’ll be back with more insightful content. Till then, take care, and happy learning! 🙂

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