fatcow vs WPX Hosting

FatCow vs. WPX Hosting

FatCow and WPX Hosting target very different audiences. FatCow focuses on simplicity and affordability for beginners and small businesses, while WPX Hosting caters to high-performance WordPress and WooCommerce sites that demand speed and security. Both hosts aim to make web management easier, but they differ sharply in pricing, performance, and scalability. Here’s how they compare across service range, ease of use, security, and pricing.

Service range and customization

Both FatCow and WPX Hosting provide essential web hosting services that include SSL certificates, email hosting, and daily backups. They also offer WordPress-focused plans, allowing users to install and manage WordPress sites easily. Each includes unlimited bandwidth, SSD storage options, and built-in tools to simplify setup. Their goal is to reduce the technical barriers to getting a website online quickly.

The difference lies in scope and specialization. FatCow offers a limited lineup, mainly shared and WordPress hosting, with one primary “Original FatCow” plan designed for general users. They prioritize a one-size-fits-all model, offering unlimited resources but little customization. WPX Hosting, on the other hand, specializes exclusively in Managed WordPress and WooCommerce hosting, built on a performance-oriented infrastructure. WPX includes a custom CDN with over 40 global points, staging environments, and dedicated site resources.

Ease of use and integration

Both companies aim to simplify hosting for non-technical users. FatCow uses a straightforward dashboard that integrates a drag-and-drop website builder, one-click app installers, and access to ShopSite eCommerce tools. This makes it a good fit for beginners looking to build personal or small business websites. WPX Hosting also emphasizes usability, with a clean custom interface that removes clutter and avoids the traditional cPanel design. Both providers automate common tasks like SSL setup, backups, and domain linking.

Where they differ is in depth and support. FatCow’s interface, while beginner-friendly, lacks advanced management or migration tools. Users migrating from other hosts must handle the process manually. WPX, by contrast, provides free site migrations, 1-click staging, and even a site speed optimization service where experts manually review and enhance performance. WPX also boasts live chat support that typically responds in under 40 seconds, a major leap over FatCow’s slower ticket system.

Security and compliance

Both FatCow and WPX Hosting take website protection seriously. Each provides SSL certificates, malware scanning, and daily backups to safeguard site data. Their WordPress plans also include features like server monitoring and spam filtering to prevent common security threats. These shared fundamentals help users maintain a baseline level of protection without needing external tools.

Yet WPX leads the way with advanced and proactive security measures. WPX includes enterprise-level DDoS protection, 24/7 malware and hack scanning, and their unique “Fixed for You” guarantee, promising to repair hacked or broken sites at no cost. FatCow’s security, while decent, doesn’t include real-time malware cleanup or a formal uptime guarantee. WPX also separates backups on independent servers for added safety, while FatCow’s daily backups are more limited in recovery scope.

Pricing

FatCow is built for affordability. Their shared hosting plan starts at $4.08 per month during the promotional term and renews at a higher rate later. This plan includes unlimited disk space, bandwidth, email accounts, and a free domain for the first year. It’s ideal for beginners who want basic functionality without multiple pricing tiers. FatCow’s WordPress WP Essential plan, priced at $6.95 per month, adds SSD storage and SiteLock security. These prices make FatCow one of the more budget-friendly options for simple sites.

WPX Hosting, however, operates at the premium end of the spectrum. Their Business plan starts at $20.83 per month, allowing up to 5 sites, 200 GB of bandwidth, and 15 GB of storage. Higher-tier plans reach up to $83.25 per month, supporting dozens of sites with unlimited bandwidth. Though expensive compared to FatCow, WPX includes features like a custom CDN, daily malware cleanup, expert optimization, and consistent renewal pricing, with no hidden fees or renewal spikes.

Conclusion

FatCow and WPX Hosting cater to entirely different hosting needs. FatCow’s simplicity, free domain offer, and low entry price make it a practical choice for personal projects or small businesses that want to get online quickly. WPX Hosting, meanwhile, stands out for its exceptional speed, customer support, and high-level security, ideal for growing blogs, eCommerce stores, and high-traffic WordPress sites.

If you’re looking for an affordable, beginner-friendly setup, FatCow is a straightforward option. But if performance, reliability, and expert support matter most, WPX Hosting justifies its higher cost.