To compare the best web hosts, we hosted the same WordPress website on each one and tested performance, customer service, and value for money. Check out the results here.
PawnHost doesn’t openly advertise where it is located, but its website includes a Florida company contact number, and it uses German data centers. This vendor offers shared web hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, reseller hosting, and SSL certificates.
Features and Ease of Use
PawnHost’s Linux-based shared hosting solutions include the following standard features:
- cPanel/WHM control panel
- Free website builder
- Unlimited disk space
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free website transfer
- Unlimited email accounts
- Free weekly backups
- Softaculous auto-installer with 400+ scripts and 1000+ PHP classes
The shared hosting packages include the Beginner package (which can host only one website), the Professional package (with a capacity to host up to 5 websites), and the Premium package (for up to 10 websites). All the plans include unlimited disk space and unlimited bandwidth.
PawnHost offers weekly automatic backup services as a courtesy to its customers, which means that they are not guaranteed. Backup space is limited to 15 GB, and customers who exceed this limit will be suspended from the free backup service unless they pay extra for additional backup space.
PawnHost’s servers are located in German data centers, and they feature enterprise-grade hardware components, multiple IP addresses, and DDoS protection. Servers are connected via super-fast internet connections to offer high uptime and reliable hosting services. What’s more, all this vendor’s virtual private servers include full root access and a choice of control panel (cPanel/WHM) to give you maximum flexibility.
You get a 99.9% uptime guarantee (which is lower than the industry average).
Pricing and Support
PawnHost’s hosting solutions are quite expensive, but with few apparent feature restrictions. Plans are priced in U.S. dollars but can also be bought using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies including Dash, Ethereum, and Qtum.
You can choose from different flexible billing cycles, such as 1-month, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month subscriptions. If you decide to go for a longer-term plan, rest assured that the 30-day money-back guarantee will protect you in case of any issues during the first month.
You can contact PawnHost’s 24/7 support team via telephone, ticketing system, email, or live chat. My attempts to contact the company were fruitless (and frustrating); my exploratory email received no response. This wouldn’t be so bad if the self-support resources were good, but the knowledge base is almost entirely bare:
How much does PawnHost cost?
PawnHost offers plans from $4.99 to $25. The price depends on which type of hosting plan you choose. You can see the updated pricing table (updated weekly) below.
Which PawnHost plan should I get?
My recommendation is to start with a cheaper plan. You can always upgrade later on. PawnHost can help you with the migration to a more expensive plan. The increase in visitors many times takes longer than expected and you shouldn’t pay a lot of money until the need arises. Of course, your needs may vary, and you can consult with a hosting expert from PawnHost.
How good is PawnHost’s customer support?
PawnHost is not ranked as one of our top web hosts. But that can also be a result of PawnHost being a small, under the radar, hosting provider. There are advantages to a small hosting company – as a customer, you are more important to them. You can also check out our comparison of the most popular web hosting services here.