Introduction

Are you torn between choosing Nexcess and Kinsta for your managed WordPress hosting needs? Both providers offer top-notch services, but there are some key differences that might make one more suitable for you than the other.

Comparison Table

Detailed Comparison

Ease of Use

Both Nexcess and Kinsta are designed to be user-friendly, especially for those familiar with WordPress.

• Nexcess: Offers a custom client portal that is intuitive and easy to navigate. It includes features like automatic plugin updates and a staging environment, making it easy to manage your site.

  

• Kinsta: Uses the MyKinsta dashboard, which is also user-friendly and includes features like one-click website staging and easy access to performance metrics.

  

Stability

Both hosts offer robust stability features.

• Nexcess: Provides 24/7 server monitoring and automatic backups. However, it doesn’t specify the frequency of checks for issues.
• Kinsta: Checks your site every 2 minutes for issues and takes immediate action if your site is down. Kinsta also offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Speed

Speed is crucial for any website.

• Nexcess: Uses its own server architecture in a shared environment, which can be less efficient compared to dedicated resources. It offers a proprietary Edge CDN with over 20 locations.
• Kinsta: Utilizes Google Cloud servers with access to 35 global data centers and includes the premium Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, resulting in slightly faster performance.

Security

Security is a top priority for both hosts.

• Nexcess: Offers automatic plugin updates with testing on a clone site before applying to the live site, and includes iThemes Security. However, it lacks some advanced security features like DDoS protection.
• Kinsta: Includes enterprise-level security with Cloudflare integration, DDoS protection, and HTTP/3 support. It also offers auto-wildcard SSL certificates.

Pricing and Cost

Pricing can be a significant factor in your decision.

• Nexcess: Offers more affordable plans starting at $21 per month, with more generous resource limits (15GB SSD storage, 2TB bandwidth, and no limits on monthly visits).
• Kinsta: Plans start at $35 per month, with tighter resource limits (10GB SSD storage, 25,000 monthly visits). Kinsta does not offer email hosting, which may add additional costs.

Customer Support Service

Good support is essential for any hosting service.

• Nexcess: Provides support via chat, phone, and email. The support is generally fast and responsive.
• Kinsta: Offers support via chat and email but lacks phone support. The support is also fast and responsive, though sometimes requires more detailed explanations.

Client Reviews

Client reviews can give you a real-world perspective.

• Nexcess: Generally praised for its value for money, generous resource limits, and good support. However, some users find the shared server environment less appealing.
• Kinsta: Praised for its superior performance, extensive data center locations, and robust security features. However, it is often criticized for its higher prices and lack of email hosting.

Pros and Cons

Nexcess

Pros:

• Lower Pricing: Plans start at $21 per month with more generous resource limits.
• Free Email Hosting: Includes unlimited email accounts.
• Better WooCommerce Hosting: Specialized features for WooCommerce sites.
• Automatic Plugin Updates: Tests updates on a clone site before applying to the live site.
• More Data Backup Retention: Keeps backups for 30 days.

Cons:

• Shared Server Environment: Less efficient compared to dedicated resources.
• Fewer Data Centers: Only 10 data centers worldwide.
• No DDoS Protection: Lacks this advanced security feature.

Kinsta

Pros:

• Superior Performance: Uses Google Cloud servers and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN.
• Extensive Data Centers: 35 data centers globally.
• Robust Security: Includes DDoS protection and HTTP/3 support.
• One-Click Staging: Easy to create and manage staging environments.
• DevKinsta for Local Development: A tool for local WordPress development.

Cons:

• Higher Pricing: Plans start at $35 per month with tighter resource limits.
• No Email Hosting: Requires a third-party email service.
• Limited Backup Retention: Only keeps backups for 14 days unless you pay extra.

FAQs

1. Which host offers better performance?

Kinsta slightly edges out Nexcess in terms of performance due to its use of Google Cloud servers and the Cloudflare Enterprise CDN. However, the difference is marginal, and both hosts offer excellent performance.

2. Do both hosts offer free email hosting?

No, only Nexcess offers free email hosting. Kinsta does not provide email hosting services and requires you to purchase a third-party email service.

3. How do the pricing plans compare?

Nexcess plans are significantly cheaper, starting at $21 per month, and offer more generous resource limits. Kinsta plans start at $35 per month with tighter resource limits.

4. Which host has more data center locations?

Kinsta has 35 data center locations worldwide, while Nexcess has only 10 data centers in the US, Europe, and Australia.

5. What kind of support do both hosts offer?

Both hosts offer responsive support via live chat, but Nexcess also provides phone support. Kinsta’s support is generally fast but may require more detailed explanations.