5GBFree is now NetHosting. Though it claims to offer almost free hosting, the truth is that you’ll get much cheaper hosting from several other providers, one among which is Hostinger. In case you need free web hosting, even 000webhost would be a better choice, I believe. I tested both Hostinger and NetHosting (which has taken over 5GBFree) thoroughly on multiple parameters and found Hostinger outshining its competitor.
You can click here to see Hostinger’s latest deals or continue reading to find out how Hostinger beats its competitor in this Hostinger vs. 5GBFree competition.
1. Plans and Pricing
Overall better rates and value for money make Hostinger the winner
Hostinger offers shared, WordPress, and email hosting plus VPS and cloud hosting. Though 5GBFree’s website has just one basic shared hosting plan, you’ll get shared hosting (including Windows hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and ShopSite hosting for online stores), cloud hosting, and dedicated servers from NetHosting.
At the time of writing this review, 5GBFree’s basic shared plan was available with NetHosting at the same rate, albeit for a limited period. But this and the other two plans are still more expensive than Hostinger’s shared plans. There’s another catch. This low-cost plan is available with a triennial term. The monthly term costs more than 3 times this price.
With Hostinger too, the best rates are available with the quadrennial term and the monthly term costs almost 10 times more for the starting plan. However, you’ll get more value for money with Hostinger. NetHosting’s managed WordPress plan costs much more (over 16X) than Hostinger’s lowest unmanaged WordPress plan.
Hostinger Web Hosting
5GBFree Web Hosting
Both these providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Hostinger wins with its overall better rates and value-added features.
2. Features
Hostinger outshines NetHosting with its robust features and freebies
With Hostinger’s shared plans, you can host 1-unlimited websites and will get CloudLinux OS, 10GB SSD-100GB SSD disk space, 100GB-unlimited bandwidth, custom-developed hPanel, free SSL certificate, free domain (with the annual term of 2 higher plans), LiteSpeed powered caching, daily/weekly data backups, auto-installer, a website builder (free for 1 month), and a custom cache manager.
NetHosting’s 3 shared plans let you host 1-unlimited websites and offer CloudLinux OS, cPanel, 100GB-unlimited disk space, and Installatron auto-installer for installing 5-unlimited web apps. However, except for the highest plan, there’s no free SSL and free domain. For automatic site backups, you’ll have to use cPanel’s feature. With its managed WordPress, you’ll get weekly automatic backups, thanks to SiteSecure.me. No free website migration is on offer though. In case you’re looking for free web hosting and domain, NetHosting won’t help.
You can compare these two providers by checking this comparison table.
Hostinger | NetHosting (which has taken over 5GBFree) | |
Hosting Types | Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, email hosting, cloud hosting, and VPS | Shared hosting (including Windows hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and ShopSite hosting), cloud hosting, and dedicated servers |
Free Domain | ✓(with annual term of 2 higher plans) | ✓(with the highest plan) |
Free SSL Certificate | ✓ | ✓(with the highest plan) |
Disk Space | 10GB SSD-100GB SSD | 100GB-unlimited |
Bandwidth | 100GB-unlimited | Unmetered |
Automatic Backups | Daily/Weekly (depending on your plan) | ✓ (Weekly, with WordPress) |
Control Panel | hPanel | cPanel |
Email accounts | 1-unlimited | 10-unlimited |
Free CDN | × | × |
Free Site Migration | ✓ | × |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Several freebies and robust features make Hostinger this round’s winner.
3. Performance
Hostinger delivers on its uptime guarantee where NetHosting fails
Hostinger has its servers deployed across 7 different regions for global coverage. In contrast, NetHosting’s servers are located in Orem, Utah. If you’re worried about performance, Hostinger will inspire confidence with its multiple performance-enhancing features like SSDs, CloudLinux, LiteSpeed cache plugins, GZIP compression, and optional Cloudflare CDN. NetHosting just uses Varnish Cache and CloudLinux.
4. Security
Hostinger’s exceptional security wins where NetHosting’s basic security struggles
With Hostinger’s Bitninja/Imunify360 (WAF), you’ll stay protected from DDoS attacks, brute force and hacking attempts, malware, botnets, and script injection. This provider also uses SSL certificate, weekly/daily backups, optional CDN, RAID-10 to ensure data redundancy, Wanguard anti-DDoS protection, LVE containers (to facilitate account isolation), and proactive and prognostic server monitoring. Though NetHosting uses a 100% PCI-compliant datacenter that’s serious about data security, its security measures are still very basic with biometric scanners, 24/7 live security cameras, etc. If you want to have peace of mind knowing your website and hosting are in secure hands, Hostinger is miles ahead of NetHosting.
By taking your website’s security seriously, Hostinger wins.
5. Support
Hostinger wins a close round
Hostinger offers superb support via its 24/7 live chat plus tickets (for logged-in users) and email. There’s a paid “Priority Support” too for those who hate waiting in the queue. I used Hostinger’s live chat, which was quick and competent. For self-help, you can use its multiple tutorials, a blog, and a knowledgebase.

NetHosting’s support is available 24/7 via live chat, phone, and email. I used its live chat a couple of times and found it quite fast and efficient. For self-support, it has an FAQ section and a blog.

Hostinger wins with its overall support system – both in terms of manned and self-support channels.
Hostinger Scores an Easy Win
From features, performance, and pricing to security and support, Hostinger outshines NetHosting in all the categories. As a result, I would highly recommend Hostinger. If you still need another reason to choose Hostinger to meet your hosting needs, knowing that it features on our list of the best web hosting services may help.
Comparison Table
Hostinger | Nixiweb | |
Plans and Pricing | Pocket-friendly shared hosting and WordPress hosting plus email hosting, cloud hosting, and VPS | Shared hosting (including Windows hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and ShopSite hosting) that costs more plus cloud hosting and dedicated servers |
Key Features | CloudLinux OS, hPanel, free SSL certificate, free domain (with the annual term of 2 higher plans), LiteSpeed powered caching, daily/weekly data backups, auto-installer, a website builder (free for 1 month), and a custom cache manager | CloudLinux OS, cPanel, Installatron auto-installer, free SSL and free domain (with the highest plan), and weekly automatic site backups (with managed WordPress) |
Performance | Credit-backed 99.9% uptime guarantee; uses SSDs, CloudLinux, LiteSpeed cache plugins, GZIP compression, and optional Cloudflare CDN | 100% uptime guarantee; uses Varnish Cache and CloudLinux |
Security | Bitninja/Imunify360 (WAF), SSL certificate, weekly/daily backups, optional CDN, RAID-10 for data redundancy, Wanguard anti-DDoS protection, LVE containers (to facilitate account isolation), and proactive and prognostic server monitoring | 100% PCI-compliant datacenter with basic security like biometric scanners, 24/7 live security cameras, etc. |
Support | 24/7 live chat, email, ticket support, and paid Priority Support; tutorials, blog, and knowledgebase for self-help | 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email; FAQ and blog for self-help |