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HostStage Review [2024]: Too Good To Be True?

Caitlin Greyling Written by: Caitlin Greyling

In its own words, HostStage is a full-service host made for digital/internet marketers. Its unique SEO and marketing tools, global data centers, 24/7 chat support, and range of hosting plans and VPS configurations certainly appeal to this demographic. And its pricing isn’t too shabby, either. That said, I do find its marketing of “yet-to-be-released” features a bit opportunistic.

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Overview

Feature-Rich Hosting Designed for Marketers, but Not All Plans Apply

HostStage hosting features
With SEO tools, an API, and crypto payments, HostStage is very tech-forward

HostStage was created by IMers for IMers. If you’re wondering what an “IMer” is, then you’re probably not one (spoiler alert: it stands for “Internet Marketer”). However, don’t let that worry you. After reviewing this host, I can firmly say it has a lot to offer almost anyone, not just marketers.

What are some standouts? First off, there’s the 24/7 “sleepless” live chat support and a 100% uptime guarantee. Then, there’s the fact that HostStage accepts no less than 40 different cryptocurrencies. The majority of its servers are also located in Eastern Europe – so if you serve an audience here, take note.

However, I did notice the features you get depend largely on your hosting type. For example, you’ll get access to the cPanel control panel for shared hosting and its proprietary HS Control Panel for VPS plans. Also, the much pricier dedicated hosting plans offer more data center location options. However, HostStage wins things back with its surprisingly affordable unmanaged Linux VPS plans.

Features and Ease of Use

The majority of HostStage’s hosting plans offer a number of features, including a CDN, nightly backups, free SSL certificates, and some useful marketing tools. A full security suite is also included and features DoS and DDoS protection, malware removal, daily scans, interventions, and more.

HostStage available hosting plans and features
Features vary for different types of hosting, so make sure you explore all plan options

Aside from cPanel (which comes with Softaculous), HostStage offers its in-house HS Control Panel for select plans. To be more specific, it’s available with the pricier HostStage Windows and VPS hosting plans. The HS Control Panel includes numerous SEO and marketing tools and includes HostStage’s HS API and rank-tracking tool.

This tool collates your engagement data into easy-to-digest graphs. However, it’s not out yet – yes, despite this feature taking center stage on the HostStage website! The details of its release and exact function are vague, as well. Though marketing yourself is always a good plan, advertising a not-yet-available product can be a bit… anticlimactic.

HostStage rank-tracking tool
It’s a bit disappointing that this rank-tracking tool isn’t a reality yet

HostStage offers multiple data center location options, but like its other features, these vary by hosting plan. Dedicated servers are available in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Frankfurt, Lagos, Los Angeles, Madrid, Palermo, Fujairah, Riga, Singapore, Sofia, Vilnius, and Warsaw. VPS is available in various locations in the US, Africa, Asia, and Europe. You can select the region and exact server location when you sign up for your VPS or dedicated server plan.

Having said that, shared hosting doesn’t allow for server location selection at all. And I couldn’t get a clear answer from the host regarding where my server would be, either.

Another unique HostStage feature is its 100% uptime guarantee. Typically, hosts cover their bases by offering a 99.9% or similar uptime guarantee (despite many achieving 100% uptime during testing). It’s nice to see a host that really believes in its servers. This SLA also appeals to marketers who may demand the absolute best performance and constant availability for their company website or e-commerce store.

HostStage Features at a Glance

Free domain name?
Free SSL?
Money-back guarantee 30 days (excluding dedicated hosting plans)
Uptime guarantee 100%
Control panel cPanel, HS control panel, WHM (depending on hosting type)
Data centers 2 in the US, 8 in Europe, 1 in Asia, 1 in the Middle East, and 1 in Africa

Support

Plenty of resources and reasonable (even generous) pricing – everything about HostStage seemed impressive so far. That is until I tested its customer support. HostStage offers various support channels available 24/7, including email, phone, ticket, and live chat support. You can even reach support through social media (LinkedIn, X, Facebook) and Skype. I settled on live chat since the box is conveniently available in the lower-right corner of the site.

Unfortunately, my HostStage live chat experience was less than impressive. Not only did the agent take 20 minutes to reply (and equally long to follow-up), but they also weren’t the most helpful when they did. They provided an answer – but unfortunately, it wasn’t to the question I asked. When they followed up, they missed key details of what I’d enquired about. Even worse, they disconnected the chat after being unable to provide me with an answer.

HostStage live chat support
From non-responsive chatbots to not-so-helpful agents, HostStage support was a little frustrating

To put it simply, HostStage could work on their live chat service – a key channel of communication for most busy website owners. Oh well, at least HostStage support stayed true to its “sleepless” support promise. I was online close to midnight, so it was surprising to get a response at all.

If you’re looking for more reliable, helpful support with equally impressive features (and even lower pricing!), Hostinger may be a better fit1.

Pricing

As far as pricing goes, HostStage is one of the most versatile hosts I’ve seen. With basic plans ranging from a few dollars per month all the way up to extremely advanced dedicated server plans totaling a few thousand dollars, it really is the host for everyone. And I mean everyone, from first-time bloggers to world-renowned online stores and enterprises.

That said, bottom-tier plans do start out with very few resources (think only a handful of gigabytes of storage). If you’re shopping for a budget host, you’re likely to find a better deal out there – did I mention Hostinger’s ridiculously low-cost plans1? In fact, I’ve seen plans with triple the storage for less. However, I do appreciate HostStage’s generous website allowances (5 on the cheapest plan) and dedicated RAM quotas for shared plans.

Overall, if you’re looking for the best value, HostStage’s unmanaged Linux VPS plans stand out. Starting at [-] (around the same price as some shared hosting plans from prominent hosts), it might be worthwhile skipping a shared plan to go straight to VPS. The only drawback is that you’ll need to know your way around a server.

HostStage allows you to pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. On top of PayPal, UnionPay, and credit cards, HostStage also accepts most major cryptocurrencies.

Comparison

How does HostStage match up to the competition?

1HostingerCompareOur Score4.9Compare
1IONOSCompareOur Score4.8Compare
1HostStageCompareOur Score4.2Compare
1Go4HostingCompareOur Score2.4Compare

HostStage REVIEW: BOTTOM LINE

HostStage has a lot of potential but may not be the best for beginners or those looking for the absolute best value in a web host. The pricing isn’t quite as low as it could be for its starter plans (you know, considering the low storage allowance and all). The user dashboard isn’t the most beginner-friendly, and you’ll probably have a difficult time getting any support from support. Instead, I recommend Hostinger1 for novices and the financially savvy.

In contrast, I think HostStage would be better suited for someone who’s looking for VPS hosting and is familiar with managing a server. From selecting your server location to the number of IPs, OS type, and billing period, HostStage really lets you customize your plans. Plus, its unmanaged VPS plans are some of the most affordable on the market.

E-commerce and marketing agencies will also benefit from HostStage’s SEO tools and generous website and traffic allowances.

FAQ

Where are HostStage’s data centers located?

HostStage has data centers located around the world. However, available locations vary depending on the type of hosting you choose.

For example, both managed and unmanaged dedicated hosting plans are available in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Frankfurt, Lagos, LA, Madrid, Palermo, Fujairah, Riga, Singapore, Sofia, Vilnius, and Warsaw. VPS hosting is available in the US, Africa, Asia, and Europe (you can select specific locations in these regions). However, shared hosting plans don’t allow for server location selection at all.

What services does HostStage offer?

HostStage offers a variety of hosting services, as well as domain name registration. You can choose from shared hosting, VPS (managed or unmanaged), and dedicated hosting (managed or unmanaged). Notably, HostStage has one of the widest selections of dedicated hosting configurations around. Spanning 13 data center locations across five continents, this host also has global reach.

Does HostStage have an uptime guarantee?

Yes, HostStage has one of the best uptime guarantees at 100%. It fulfills this by partnering with only Tier 3 and Tier 4 certified data centers, which provide consistent uptime of 99.982% – 99.995% per year. For every hour of downtime, you’re entitled to a 5% credit for your hosting service, up to 100% after 20 hours of downtime. HostStage also has a 30-day money-back guarantee in place for all hosting plans except dedicated server packages.

Is HostStage web hosting legit?

Yes, HostStage is a legitimate host offering hosting services and domain registration. The company is a subsidiary of Melbikomas UAB, based in Vilnius, Lithuania. However, you should always be aware of scams and fake websites. If you did not sign up for HostStage marketing emails, be suspicious of any received from the company. Never click on any suspicious links or download a file without an antivirus scan first.
Caitlin Greyling Caitlin Greyling
A freelance author, graphic designer, and photographer, Caitlin Greyling writes about web hosting, web builder software, graphic design, tech, and electronics, and has published hundreds of product reviews and comparisons for Website Planet, The Daily Mail, and Durability Matters. Her creative and technical knowledge has been showcased at PictureCorrect, Photutorial, and others. She is currently studying for an NCTJ diploma in journalism. When Caitlin’s not working, she’s exploring nature with her son and dog or relaxing at home with her cat.
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