Hostpapa Review 2021

About HostPapa

Founded in 2006, HostPapa is a privately-owned company that ranks as a leading cloud service and web hosting firm. With its location and headquarters in Burlington, Canada, HostPapa has its primary data centers in Toronto, Canada, and it is owned by Jamie Opalchak. It however offers hosting services across the world with clients in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Hong Hong, among others.

The company has its server’s locations across the world in regions such as North and South America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Mainland China. HostPapa nameservers (a computer that hosts Domain Name System – DNS) are easy to find.

The company hosts more than 500k websites on its Canada and the US data centers. Their rise can be attributed to their various customer service options, including phone support in several languages. HostPapa partnered with Cloudflare in 2012, to stretch out its achievement as a worldwide hosting services provider.

HostPapa Nameservers

You can find your HostPapa nameserver details after you buy a hosting service or domain via your email or in the HostPapa Dashboard. Most users will get their HostPapa nameservers under:

• ns1.hostpapa.com or
• ns2.hostpapa.

HostPapa also offers private nameservers if you send a request when configuring your domain name. These servers use your domain name, like ns1.hostpapa.com, instead of your web hosting company’s name. Private nameserver users can check their details from the HostPapa Dashboard.

How to Use HostPapa

HostPapa offers a free web builder software that allows the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) individuals to use their imagination to create a website. You can also create an eCommerce platform with HostPapa’s easy to comprehend instructions for creating a functional website.

If you have a site, HostPapa provides a free website migration service from outside hosts into your HostPapa hosting account. The company’s knowledge base has useful info on how you can migrate your site to make it easy for you.

HostPapa is a robust web hosting service for small businesses with lots of benefits, from pricing plans to unlimited bandwidth, and more. We shall discuss this as we tackle our review today under different topics and subtopics. HostPapa is in the SSL certificates and Information Technology (IT).

HostPapa Pricing Plans

HostPapa includes shared hosting suitable for novices and small businesses, with reseller hosting and VPS that are customized toward advanced users. You can get low-priced web hosting with several valuable features.

Please keep in mind that pricing in HostPapa tends to fluctuate regularly, and the low advertised prices require a longer (three-year) sign-up and subscription. HostPapa offers its pricing in three plans, including the Starter, Business, and Business Pro plans.

• Starter Plan

Starting at $3.95/m, the plan enables you to host two sites, offer 100GB disk space, free domain registration, and unlimited bandwidth. You also receive what they call Essential Features, comprising of SSL Certificate, a free site migration, access to over 400 web apps, and Cloudflare CDN.

Other features include:

• 24/7
• Cloud Linux servers
• cPanel control panel
• Let’s Encrypt SSL (free)
• 99.9% uptime
• Starter web builder
• Business Plan

The plan costs $3.95/m and enables you to host unlimited sites, offers unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited disk space. Over the Essential features mentioned above, the plan provides Advanced Features such as MySQL databases, unlimited add-on domains, and email accounts. 

• Business Pro

Starting at $12.95/m, the plan offers more advanced features unlimited bandwidth, unlimited websites, unlimited SSD storage, and free domain registration. These features are on top of the essential and advanced features available in the previous plans.

Additional features include performance enhancements like:

• Lightning-fast servers
• Unlimited pages for web builders

Others are:

• A Premium Wildcard SSL
• Domain privacy
• Automatic website backups

Their pricing plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, and payment methods are through Credit Cards and PayPal. HostPapa’s sign-up process is straightforward.

While the advertised price applies for the initial subscription, HostPapa’s renewal costs are a bit more expensive, coming at $29.99. There are also some upsells, and your account activation can take longer than you would expect.

HostPapa Features

The features that you get for free with other web hosting firms are thought of as premium, but with a 99.97% uptime and suitable load speeds. As you can see in the pricing plans above, HostPapa offers different features depending on the subscription plan you choose.

Even with reliable uptime and modest speed results, not all customers experience the same positive effects. As mentioned above, there are hidden fees, contrary to the free service claims. Here is our list of pros and cons:

Pros:

• Reliable uptime (99.9%)
• Rocket-fast speeds
• Broad support options (24/7, phone support, and multilingual services)
• Active security features
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Site migration
• Decent value for the cost

Cons:

• Inconsistent customer support (despite the numerous options)
• Extra fees ($29.95 set-up fee when you cancel a subscription)

How to Install HostPapa WordPress

You can use several methods to install WordPress for HostPapa, even for people seeking simplicity or flexibility. We shall guide you through the different tactics (step-by-step) for a WordPress installation.

1. Using the Softaculous App Installer

Available in My cPanel, the Softaculous App Installer enables a straightforward WordPress platform installation. Log in to your HostPapa Dashboard > My cPanel > Softaculous App Installer.

Seek the WordPress icon and navigate through the WordPress platform options and click on Install Now. To configure your installation settings, fill the Software Set-up form:

• Choose protocol (http:// or https://)
• Select domain
• In the directory for WordPress (must be new)
• Website name for your WordPress blog
• Site description
• Enable multisite (WPMU) – optional for a multisite installation
• Enter Admin Username & Password
• Enter an Admin Email

Softaculous will auto-configure the Database Name and Table Prefix linked to your WordPress account by default. Do you wish to configure it personally? Click on the Advanced Options link.

Choose the theme and click Install to continue. Check out this video.

2. Using a WordPress Subdomain

If you want to use this method, the subdomain must be created before configuring Softaculous site settings. Click Subdomains from the cPanel menu, enter your preferred subdomain prefix, and click on Create to proceed.

3. Manual Installation Via FTP/cPanel File Manager

This method can be completed through uploading files to the webserver directly via the cPanel File Manager or an FTP client. Visit the developer website for the latest WordPress version, download, and unzip the file.

Visit My cPanel > MySQL Database Wizard, and follow the prompts to build a new database and database user for your WP installation. When adding the user to the database, make sure you choose ALL PRIVILEGES.

Click here for more info.

HostPapa Backups

To ensure your peace of mind, HostPapa protects your info and site data with their Automated Website Backup. The Automated Daily Backups is a premium service that backups your entire site files, emails, and MySQL databases. You can select from seven restore points for simple recovery.

The Basic Plan has a 1GB backup space, but you can regularly upgrade if it becomes insufficient. Upgrades for backup storage include 5GB, 10GB, 25GB, and 50GB.

HostPapa Domain Names

Your domain name builds the beginning of your address on the internet. At HostPapa hosting, you can select from classic domain endings, like .net, and .com, or discover new domain endings, such as .guru, .club.

You can utilize your creativity to select a domain name that represents your brand and helps you become prominent out on the website. Here are plans for the domain name extensions offered by HostPapa:

• .blog (for all your sharing methods) at $9.99
• .xyz (just like Google) at $0.99
• .online (go online) at $4.99
• .cloud (modern domain) at $8.99
• .club (choice for socialites) at $1.99

HostPapa Affiliate

HostPapa Affiliate Program is straightforward and focuses on making its affiliates large commissions via referring business to:

• HostPapa’s best-in-class reseller program
• HostPapa’s award-winning web hosting services

HostPapa’s most fruitful affiliates are making more than $10k/m, and they are payments made monthly and on-time. If you want to become a part of the Affiliate Program, you just need to register via their sign-up form, receive approval, and start earning.

You just need to place HostPapa high converting banners or links (texts) on your website and earn CAD $75 commission for each new successful sale you send HostPapa. Commissions have no limits on the amounts you can make. Check out this site for more information.

HostPapa cPanel

The cPanel control panel feature is used to manage your service settings. It supports a range of features for functioning with folders and files, domain management, and configuring DNS records.

Other functions include managing subdomains, emails, working with databases, among others. To access cPanel, you need to sign-in to your HostPapa Dashboard and select My cPanel at the top of the navigation menu.

The panel layout includes several settings categories, each covering a collection of icons. There is an extensive list of options, but you can use the toolbar’s search box (at the top of the control panel). Check this out on their Knowledgebase.

HostPapa Domain Transfer

HostPapa allows domain transfer. But before you submit a request on domain transfer, ensure you do the following:

• Your domain must be unlocked
• Recover the EPP code essential for the transfer
• Ensure you have access to the email address of the registrant

Domain transfer can be done in two methods:

• HostPapa Non-Users

When buying your HostPapa account, check the option I already have a domain on the Secure Order Form. The transfer will commence automatically when payment is received. Review your domain transferring and successful transfer, check this article.

• HostPapa Users

Use these steps on HostPapa Dashboard to order a domain transfer:

• Sign in to your HostPapa Dashboard.
• Click My Domains.
• Click Transfer New Domain.
• Enter your Username & Password (if prompted), and click Sign-in.
• Choose this option Transfer my Existing Domain.
• Enter the domain name you wish to transfer and click Continue.
• Analyze your summary, choose your payment method, and click Continue.
• Transfer auto-starts once payment is received.

The transfer process varies depending on your domain name. For more information, you can open a support ticket here and get the help you need. 

HostPapa Australia

HostPapa ranks as Australia’s best web hosting service, starting at AUD $2.95/m for an account that allows for unlimited bandwidth, two sites, a free domain name, and site transfer. You also get 100GB SSD storage.

For domain registrations, HostPapa can accommodate your .com.au fully, with a set-up process that checks available domain names based on your input. Creating a website has never been comfortable with this one-click installer for popular CMS such as Joomla and WordPress.

HostPapa Contact/Email/US/CA/UK

HostPapa supports both email and contact customer support. You can reach them via contact:

• 1-888-959-PAPA [7272] (905) 315-3455 in the US and Canada
• 0800 051 7126 020 3769 9817 in the UK

Or via email:

• 1623 Military Rd. #1013 Niagara Falls, NY 10304-1745 in the US
• 5063 North Service Rd. Suite 100 Burlington, ON L7L 5H6 in Canada
• 18 king William Street London EC4N 7BP in the UK

HostPapa Webmail and How to Access

Accessing email on-demand is crucial to daily business operations, and HostPapa lets you use your account to sign-in through a web browser to your HostPapa webmail account. You can access Webmail via cPanel or outside cPanel (recommended). Click the link for more information.

HostPapa Gmail

HostPapa works well with Gmail, where you just pay for user accounts in G Suite for a straightforward, user-friendly email routing feature. This allows email forwarding, but at a cost. Check this link out for more information.

HostPapa Green Hosting

HostPapa leads in corporate responsibility (CR) and sustainable business practices as it is committed to consistent hosting and quality support. It has taken the go-green initiative by buying 100% green renewable energy to power its data centers, laptops, office space, and web servers. 

HostPapa VPS

HostPapa has five VPS server plans, including:

• Plus: often $49.99/m with a promotional fee at $19.99. Includes a 4-core CPU, 1.5GB memory, 50GB SSD storage, and 1TB transfer.
• Pro: often $79.99/m with $39.99 at a promotional price. Includes a 4-core CPU, 3GB memory, 100GB SSD storage, and 2TB transfer.
• Premium: steadily at $149.99/m with a promotional fee at $109.99. Includes an 8-core CPU, 6GB memory, 200GB SSD storage, and 2TB transfer.
• Ultra: often $149.99/m with a promotional fee at $199.99. Includes an 8-core CPU, 12GB memory, 500GB SSD storage, and 4TB transfer.
• Extreme: often $299.99/m with a promotional price at $249.99. Includes a 12-core CPU, 24GB memory, 1TB SSD storage, and 8TB transfer.

Each plan’s promotional price is applicable for the initial month of purchase, and come with the Managed VPS, where HostPapa deals with network issues, security audits, firewall set-up, and more.

HostPapa vs. Bluehost

Both Bluehost and HostPapa are established, and huge shared hosting providers, with Bluehost having more than 2 million domains under management. HostPapa, on the other hand, serves more than 0.5 million sites.

They both offer cPanel to ensure a user-friendly shared hosting service and provide adequate room for expansion by making having both available dedicated servers and VPS. Yet, their services have notable differences, which you must consider when selecting the right provider.

HostPapa and Bluehost similarities include a free domain, 24/7 support, several useful features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. While HostPapa isn’t as outstanding as Bluehost, it offers free Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificates, one free site transfer, and a 30-minute novice training.

In terms of pricing, however, Bluehost is more cost-effective (starting at $7.99/m to $14.99/m), and also has more features. 

HostPapa vs. GoDaddy

Both HostPapa and the Arizona-based GoDaddy are well-established web hosting providers in today’s market. But in terms of experience, GoDaddy (founded in 1997) gets the upper hand compared to 2006 founded HostPapa.

Both offer dedicated servers, VPS, managed WP hosting, and shared web hosting. While HostPapa offers web hosting only on the Linux platform, GoDaddy offers on both Linux and Windows platforms.

In terms of pricing plans, HostPapa’s Starter starts at $7.99/m, while GoDaddy’s Economy begins at $3.95, with 100GB storage, a free domain name, and unlimited bandwidth. Their Business and Deluxe Plans start at $3.95 and $4.99, simultaneously with similar features. The plans are appropriate for sites with a modest amount of monthly traffic.

When it comes to speed and performance, there is not much difference between GoDaddy and HostPapa. The same applies in terms of customer support, but GoDaddy’s leads by having more responsive support than HostPapa.

HostPapa IMAP Settings

IMAP set-up switches your SMTP settings to read Gmail messages in other mail clients such as Outlook, Apple Mail, and Microsoft. Using IMAP enables you to read your Gmail messages on several devices, and they are synced in actual time.

Gmail messages can also be accessed via POP. Click on the devices above for set-up settings.

HostPapa India

HostPapa India refers to the local Indian version of HostPapa.com that offers specialized hosting for SMBs and bloggers in India. It includes all the features and pricing plans available in HostPapa.com, with the same data centers.

HostPapa Indian clients have attributed the hosting service to lots of benefits (mentioned above), but complain about two things. These include the lack of monthly plans, and dedicated & cloud hosting are unavailable.

HostPapa Joomla

Joomla is an open-source project with global support, where countless pros and volunteer developers contribute to it. As such, it is an incredibly robust and well-supported platform and includes responsive design features, a user-friendly interface, customizable, and more.

If you use HostPapa hosting service for Joomla, you will enjoy benefits such as:

• Frontend content editing without logging in to your Admin Panel.
• Multilingual website support.
• Regular updates for enhanced stability and security.
• Integrated user help system.

HostPapa NZ and Mexico

HostPapa has servers across the continent in main cities, which even supports clients based in New Zealand and Mexico. They can access all the features they need depending on the selected pricing plan and use the same data centers based in Canada.

HostPapa Promo Code

HostPapa has numerous popular promo codes, some with short expiry dates and some which last longer. Here is a table to show you the current promo codes:

HostPapa Reseller

HostPapa offers Reseller plans that give businesses the power, security, and control they require to shoot their business upwards while inflating returns. Your clients will relish the excellent performance and user-friendliness of your site. You, on the other hand, will delight in the dedicated reseller support and automation.

Reseller plans include:

• Bronze reseller plan ($29.99) comes with a 4-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 50GB SSD storage, free SSL Certificates, 20 cPanel accounts, and 500GB bandwidth.

• Silver reseller plan ($39.99) includes a 4-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 100GB SSD storage, free SSL Certificates, 40 cPanel accounts, and 1TB bandwidth.

• Gold reseller plan ($64.99) comes with an 8-core CPU, 8GB RAM, 150GB SSD storage, free SSL Certificates, 60 cPanel accounts, and 1.5TB bandwidth.

• Platinum reseller plan ($89.99) includes an 8-core, 16GB RAM, 200GB SSD storage, free SSL Certificates, 100 cPanel accounts, and 2TB bandwidth.

• Titanium reseller plan ($119.99) comes with an 8-core CPU, 32GB RAM, 250GB SSD storage, free SSL Certificates, 150 cPanel accounts, and 2.5TB bandwidth.

HostPapa Refund

You can cancel your HostPapa services any time through the Cancellation Process they provide on their site. Products bought from HostPapa, Inc. might be refunded under the Standard Refund Terms policy within the provided timeframe.

All HostPapa refunds are subject to conditions set below the money-back guarantee period. If you cancel services or products that qualify a refund under the terms above, you will get a full refund.

All refunds are calculated via subtracting the amounts ineligible for a refund from any fees you have paid.

Click this link for more information on the HostPapa refund.

HostPapa Status

Currently, all HostPapa systems are operational, including:

• Web hosting
• Domain registration
• Optimized WordPress web hosting
• VPS hosting
• Reseller hosting
• Basic and Advanced email
• Google Suite
• Microsoft Office 365
• Ticket, phone, and live chat support system
• HostPapa Dashboard

HostPapa Office 365

Standard editions or apps of Microsoft from HostPapa are always up-to-date for the latest version of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Publisher). Microsoft 365 from HostPapa is available in three plans:

• Basic at $7.99/m/user and renews at $9.99/m. Includes Microsoft Office Online Edition and Business-class email.
• Apps at $11.99/m/user, renews at $14.99/m. Includes Microsoft Office Online Edition and Microsoft Office Suite.
•  Standard at $15.99/m/user, renews at $19.99/m. Includes Microsoft Office Online Edition, Business-class email, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Click this link for HostPapa’s Microsoft 365 features.

HostPapa Outlook

Outlook 2016 allows for standard POP3/IMAP email accounts, Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange accounts from a variety of providers such as Gmail, Outlook.com, Hotmail, and more. HostPapa email services require POP or IMAP.

HostPapa Settings

HostPapa settings can be found on your Account Dashboard, where you can customize your website, change domains, set-up data recovery, and more. Visit your HostPapa Dashboard for detailed information.

HostPapa MX Records

Mail Exchange or MX records lead a domain’s email to the servers that host the domain’s user accounts. For a smooth sending and receiving of emails on the domain, a precise MX record is a necessity.

Do you need to update your HostPapa MX records? Click here.

Nate R. Reiner

My name is Nate Reiner and I am the editor here at 10Webtools. I have 8 years of experience using 50+ different web tools ranging from podcast, web hosting, email marketing, and much more. I previously managed a team offering support services to a large conglomerate that utilized tens of software solutions. I now run this blog full-time and when I am not reviewing or testing software, I enjoy riding bikes and supporting my clients achieve internet success. You can reach me directly at [email protected]