I tested HostArmada by setting up a website on their Shared Hosting and a VPS hosting plans, evaluating performance, ease of use, and support. Right away, I noticed key perks like free SSL, daily backups, and free website migration—features that many providers charge extra for.
The shared hosting setup was seamless with cPanel and Softaculous, while the HostArmada VPS tools provided full control. However, while the initial pricing is competitive, renewal rates increase after the first term.
This HostArmada shares all the details so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
Ease of Use
I’ve heard good things about HostArmada’s usability, so I put it to the test. From signup and purchase, to the user dashboard, installs, and server management, so you know what you expect.
Registration and Account Creation
Registering for HostArmada was simple – select your plan, input domain information, and you’re ready to get started.
Choose between monthly or quarterly billing cycles first, then select your data center location and server features.
Finally, review your order and enter your payment details. Here, I had a discount code to apply, so I popped that in the relevant box, as well.
Once the payment was complete, I received two confirmation emails, one for my order, and the other prompting me to verify my email address.
The HostArmada registration process was standard, and all confirmations were received instantly, so I wasn’t left worrying things had gone wrong.
User Dashboard
The HostArmada user dashboard is where you manage your account and servers. This is the central hub for everything related to your HostArmada hosting plan, divided into two main panels.
The left hand panel is the primary navigation menu, and I found it to be neatly categorized. Everything is easy to find, and I was able to quickly hop between accounts, services, billing, support, and domain management.
HostArmada’s dashboard is one of the most user-friendly I’ve encountered, balancing simplicity with flexibility. The inclusion of shortcuts for managing services, invoices, and support makes it an even more streamlined tool.
VPS Server Management
To manage my VPS server, I navigated to My Services and clicked Manage next to my server. This opened a detailed overview of my VPS hosting plan.
From here, I was able to access cPanel, WebMail, and WHM login, as well as view my service and billing details.
Again, this is split into the two panels, with each containing a list of essential, easily accessible, server management features.
I found HostArmada’s WHM (VPS server control center) is robust yet user-friendly, overall an excellent tool for developers or businesses managing multiple accounts.
The detailed panels and clear navigation make server management smooth and efficient.
Shared Hosting Management & Installing WordPress
For shared hosting, the process is simpler but just as efficient. I accessed my shared hosting service from the My Services tab and clicked Manage.
I logged into the cPanel from the management dashboard, and was able to access the WordPress manager (by Softaculous), and find general account information like SSL status, IP address, and disk usage.
To see how easy this would be for a beginner, I decided to install the WordPress manager. Through Softaculous, I was able to do this in literally a couple of clicks from here – so I’d say that’s pretty straightforward.
Installing WordPress with HostAdvice took less than five minutes thanks to the intuitive dashboard and third-party tools.
Their ease of use shines in its streamlined registration, comprehensive dashboards, and beginner-friendly tools. I honestly believe whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user, HostArmada ensures you have the tools you need at your fingertips.
Performance
HostArmada VPS Performance Tests
HostArmada stands out for its usability, but how does it compare when it comes to website performance? I used the sysbench benchmarking tool to see how my HostArmada test website performed in CPU and memory, as well as conducting a Google ping test.
I decided to compare the results for VPS and shared hosting solutions, so let’s take a look at the results.
First, here are my VPS server details:
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CPU Performance Test
This test measures how well the CPU handles mathematical computations, evaluating the server’s processing power.
The CPU speed was excellent and demonstrated strong performance. This indicates that HostArmada CPU can handle medium to heavy workloads, making it suitable for running multiple applications, hosting databases, or handling traffic-heavy sites.
The low latency and high events-per-second rate reflect its capability to manage demanding processes efficiently.
I used the command:
sysbench cpu –cpu-max-prime=20000 run
Results:
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Memory Performance Test
Next, I wanted to measure the HostArmada server’s ability to handle memory operations. This test measures the server’s ability to handle memory operations, and evaluates memory speed and latency.
With a high transfer rate and negligible latency it’s clear to me that the HostArmada VPS can handle memory-intensive tasks.
These results demonstrate that HostArmada’s VPS server provides robust memory performance, making it a reliable choice for applications requiring quick data access and processing.
The command I used:
sysbench memory –memory-block-size=1M –memory-total-size=10G run
Results:
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HostArmada’s VPS server showcased excellent performance in both CPU and memory tests. The results reflect its capability to handle resource-intensive applications efficiently, making it a great choice for businesses, developers, and high-traffic websites.
Network Speed Test
I conducted a ping test targeting Google’s servers to evaluate the network performance of HostArmada’s VPS hosting.
Results:
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The low latency indicates a fast and highly responsive network connection, making HostArmada VPS ideal for hosting websites that require quick data retrieval. The 0% package loss means every single data packet was sent and returned successfully.
The minimal variation in latency values (standard deviation of 0.08ms) highlights the stability of the connection.
Stability Test
To assess the server’s stability, I ran a stress test using Apache Benchmark (ab).
Server Details:
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Through my stability tests, I found HostArmada servers to experience zero failures and high throughput, as well as quick response times and scalability. However, there were occasional latency spikes indicating room for optimization.
Results:
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With low average latency (2.13ms) and zero packet loss, the VPS connection is both fast and extremely reliable. Combined with high throughput and zero failures, HostArmada VPS hosting is a top-tier option for users seeking both speed and stability.
HostArmada Shared Hosting Performance Tests
To evaluate the performance of HostArmada’s Shared Hosting, I set up a WordPress website with content that closely resembles a real-world scenario.
My shared hosting plan had the following specs:
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GTMetrix Test Results
The high performance score via GTMetrix shows the HostAdvice server handles user interactions effectively, and other metrics indicate there shouldn’t be any unnecessary delays. I’m really impressed with their results so far!
However, the absence of a CDN contributed to slightly longer wait times, and adding this could improve performance for global visitors.
Results:
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GTmetrix Performance: Week-Long Test Results
In addition to the initial performance assessment, I ran performance tests over a two-week period, and again GTmetrix was the tool of choice for this assessment.
HostArmada’s performance results stayed strong and stable throughout most of the testing period, averaging 91%. However, it might be worth noting that there was one significant drop (to 77%), suggesting a temporary server slowdown due to congestion.
For most of the testing period, the HostArmada server Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): stayed well under a second, meaning most users should experience fast content loading speeds under normal conditions.
The LCP averaged around 750ms, with an outlying jump (1.38s). This could have been due to heavier page elements, or slower server response times.
HostArmada’s Time to First Byte (TTFB) was consistently strong, averaging way above many competing hosting providers (between 126ms and 227ms). The server was able to process requests quickly, ensuring a positive user experience.
There was a single instance of increase (171ms), but even so, the results are impressive for a shared hosting plan.
While most tests completed in around 5.5 seconds, January 29 again stood out with a time of 6.03 seconds, marking the slowest day in the test period. This is the same day as other spikes during my tests.
On the best-performing day, January 28, the website fully loaded in 5.34 seconds, proving that HostArmada’s shared hosting is capable of fast load times under optimal conditions.
