NetFirms Review — Web Hosting Comparison (2012)

NetFirms is a provider of web hosting services, VPS hosting, domain names and ecommerce. The main audiences they aim at are individual users and starting small businesses. Some of the features they offer are:

• An exclusive NetFirms SiteBuilder ^TM: a step-by-step tool that allows you to build your own website, or the option to choose from their Ready-to-go Websites^TM.
• 24/7 North American customer support.
• Personal email address and domain name.
• Coupons for Google Adwords and Facebook Ads.
• An exclusive feature they offer is the use of Clustered Hosting Technology, which supposedly allows websites to stay up and running during traffic spikes.
• Another exclusive feature is the use of their own control panel, which they claim is flexible and user-friendly.

NetFirms is a decent provider of web hosting services. Some of its most advantageous features are:

• Competitive price
• Coupons for Google Adwords and facebook Ads, which can be quite helpful if you wish to market your site.
• Clustered Hosting technology which should be able to handle traffic spikes and keep your website running during such events (even though some online reviews claim that this isn’t always the case).

One of the top competitors is web hosting service providers is MidPhase Hosting. When comparing Netfirms to this provides, it can be said that the prices are quite similar, but that MidPhase offers more additional features, such as statistic and ecommerce options, along with extensive email marketing possibilities. Furthermore, MidPhase offers unlimited web space and bandwidth in all the apckages they offer, along with a free domain, whereas NetFirms offer bandwidth and storage space in their cheapest package that can be a limiting factor to successful websites.

Both offer extensive customer support, with help centers on their website and 24/7 telephone and live chat options. Sadly, with NetFirms these support options are specifically aimed at a North American audience. 

So, all in all, NetFirms is a decent option when looking for a web hosting service, but it lacks a little in the features and support department (except in North America) to be ranked among the top web hosting service providers.

Layout

The website looks business-like and is easy to navigate. The clear indication of the services they provide adds to the user friendliness. Most necessary information can be found without any mentionable problems

Rating: 4 out of 5

Products

NetFirms offers 3 web hosting packages: the PLUS plan, the ADVANTAGE plan and the BUSINESS plan. The difference between these lies primarily in the disk space, monthly transfer, number of free domains and number of websites. The PLUS package offers 10 GB of storage space and 500 GB of monthly bandwidth, which is sufficient for starting websites, but can be quickly outgrown when the site takes of. The PLUS package also offers only one FTP account. So, for most websites, the ADVANTAGE plan is a better options as it offers increased storage space and bandwidth along with multiple FTP accounts. 

Furthermore, they provide 3 VPS series: S-1, S-2 and S-3, with differences in memory, storage space and monthly traffic.

Lastly, NetFirms also offers domain names and ecommerce software.

Browsing online reviews, there have been some complaints about the functionality and usability of the features provided. Also, no ecommerce options and few statistic features are provided in the web hosting packages. In comparison with other providers, NetFirms offers relativley few features, no statistic and ecommerce options and only few email services are included.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Price

The three web hosting plans go for $4.95, $6.97 and $14.95 a month, which is reasonable, despite the relatively limited additional features offered.

The offered VPS series cost respectively $34.95, $60.95 and $104.95 monthly, which is also reasonable.

The domain names start at $7.99 a year and the ecommerce software that is offered at $12.95 a month. Both of these prices are fair, although cheaper ecommerce solutions are available.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Customer Service

NetFirms offers 24/7 telephone and live chat support for North American customers. Furthermore, an extensive support center can be consulted when experiencing difficulties.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (if you live in North America)

Overall

NetFirms is a decent option for those who wish to install their own website for a reasonable price. Recommended specifically for small businesses.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5