Ready to supercharge your website? Meet your contenders: Rocket.net and Kinsta.
I'm here to help you decide without any tech jargon. But first, why does hosting matter?
Quick Takeaways
No time to read? Here are the key points.
Feature Comparison
Let's compare the key features of Rocket.net and Kinsta side by side.
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
📈Uptime | 99.99% | 99.99% |
💬Support | 24/7 Chat, Ticketing | 24/7 Chat, Ticketing |
💲Pricing | Starts at $30 / mo | Starts at $35 / mo |
📦️Plan | 17 Paid Plans | 10 Paid Plans |
🚀Performance Grade | A | A |
📊Monthly Visits | 250k to Unmetered | 25k to 1000k |
🔒SSL | Free | Free |
📀Storage Space | 10GB to 2TB | 10 GB to 100 GB |
🌐CDN | Cloudflare Enterprise | Free Cloudflare + Full Page Caching (100GB to 2000GB) |
💸Money Back | 30 days | 30 days |
⬇️Wordpress Installs | 1 - 200 | 1 - 150 |
💿Supported Platforms | WordPress | WordPress, Applications, Databases |
📤Free Migration | Yes | Yes |
🏷️Savings |
Get ready for a tech deep-dive! Here are the technical features of Kinsta and Rocket.net.
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
🖥️Cores/RAM | 32 cores + 128 GB RAM | 12 cores + 8 GB RAM |
🧠Redis | Yes, free | $100 / mo |
🖥Server Software | Nginx and Apache | Ngnix |
🧱Infrastructure | Bare metal private cloud | Google Cloud |
☁️Hosting Types | Managed, Dedicated | Managed, Dedicated |
🧩Staging | 1 free staging for each install | 1 free staging for each install |
📱User Interface | Custom | Custom |
💽Storage Types | NVMe | SSD |
🔗DNS | Cloudflare | Amazon Route 53 |
🏛️Datacenter | 8 | 37 |
🔄Data Transfer | 50 GB to 800 GB | 10 GB – 250 GB |
No | No | |
💾Backup | 14 day | 14 days to 30 days |
Choosing the Right Hosting: Key Considerations
Hosting is your website's digital home, determining its speed, reliability, and security.
Did you know that 88% of online shoppers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience? source
When choosing the right hosting, consider these questions:
- Is speed a priority for your users?
- Are you seeking reliability around the clock?
- How vital is top-notch security to protect your digital assets?
- Is scalability important as your site grows?
Answering these questions will lead you to the perfect hosting match between Rocket.net and Kinsta.
Introducing Rocket.net
Rocket.net, a 2020 newcomer, redefines WordPress hosting with its blazing speed. Founded by Ben Gabler and Josip Radan in West Palm Beach, Florida, it boasts $3.1 million in Annualized Recurring Revenue in 2023. With eight global data centers, Rocket.net ensures lightning-fast performance, making it your ideal hosting partner. Read full review of Rocket.net
Pros:
Cons:
Get started with Rocket.net
Introducing Kinsta
Kinsta, in the hosting game since 2013, stands tall as a leader in managed WordPress hosting. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and founded by Mark Gavalda, Kinsta boasts hosting in 35 global locations, guaranteeing lightning-fast load times. Their decade-long legacy of excellence has earned them the trust of Fortune 500 companies.
Pros:
Cons:
Get Started with Kinsta
Speed and Performance
When it comes to hosting, speed is the name of the game. Both Rocket.net and Kinsta understand the need for rapid loading times.
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
Content Delivery Network (CDN) | Cloudflare Enterprise | Free Cloudflare + Full Page Caching |
Database Caching | Redis | Redis $100 / site |
Cache Plugin | No | Kinsta MU |
Server Locations | 8 | 37 |
Both Rocket.net and Kinsta are premium WordPress hosting providers known for their high performance. They each integrate with Cloudflare CDN, ensuring fast load times globally, even without the addition of caching plugins.
Each service approaches speed optimization differently.
Kinsta has been leveraging the Google Cloud Platform since 2016, initially using N1 VMs before upgrading to the more powerful and efficient C2 VMs and Google's premium tier network in 2020. This shift benefits users who prefer Google's cutting-edge infrastructure.
In contrast, Rocket.net steers away from public cloud providers, opting instead for a fully self-managed bare metal solution and their own private cloud infrastructure since 2022, offering a unique take on data handling and site performance.
Before choosing a web hosting service, look beyond marketing claims about speed. I recommend using external speed testing tools to objectively assess each provider's performance. This step is crucial to ensure you select a service that truly meets your specific needs and expectations.
Rocket.net: Rocket.net delivers exceptional performance using Cloudflare Enterprise and includes Redis for enhanced caching. It operates on a private cloud with bare metal, allowing full control, and utilizes NVMe hard disks for faster data access. Rocket.net consistently achieves a TTFB below 100ms, ensuring rapid response times.
Page Size: 14.2 MB
Kinsta: Kinsta offers strong performance with its own CDN, powered by Cloudflare Enterprise, and utilizes Google Cloud's top CPUs and premium network. Introduced in 2022, their edge caching technology significantly speeds up website page delivery. With 37 global data centers, Kinsta ensures fast and reliable service worldwide.
Page Size: 3.4 MB
When a page size is larger, it tends to load slower. However, even though Rocket has a larger page size, it still loads faster than Kinsta.
🏆Winner - Rocket.net
Rocket.net clearly outperforms Kinsta in web hosting performance. Despite Kinsta's reputation and broad server network, it has a higher Time To First Byte (TTFB), indicating slower response times. My tests on Rocket.net consistently showed a TTFB under 100 milliseconds. Rocket’s use of faster hard disks, Cloudflare Enterprise, and superior core technology explains their advantage in speed.
Reliability and Uptime
Your website's availability is crucial. Let's see how Rocket.net and Kinsta stack up in terms of reliability:
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
Uptime Guarantee | 99.99% | 99.99% |
Automatic Failover | Yes, by CDN | Yes, by CDN |
Uptime Monitoring Alert | Yes | Yes |
Downtime Compensation | NA | 5% of monthly subscription for every 60 minutes downtime |
While 100% uptime is unrealistic due to potential disruptions like power failures and DNS issues, both Rocket.net and Kinsta offer an uptime guarantee of 99.99%, which is quite robust in the industry.
Kinsta leverages Google Cloud hosting along with Google's premier tier network—one of the largest and most resilient networks available. This setup offers strong resistance to downtime through extensive failover scenarios.
On the other hand, Rocket.net features its own intelligent edge powered by AI, enabling real-time traffic management and maximizing uptime. This technology allows for automatic failover, switching to another CDN within seconds if necessary.
When considering hosting services, remember that a 99.99% uptime translates to about 3 hours of downtime annually. While this may seem minimal, those hours could be crucial for your business.
Rocket.net: Rocket.net achieves high uptime by utilizing its intelligent edge technology and partnering with Cloudflare. This combination enhances network reliability and efficiency. Additionally, Rocket.net provides an uptime tool that allows users to monitor service availability in real-time.
Kinsta: Kinsta ensures high uptime by leveraging Google Cloud and Google's premier network tier, coupled with Cloudflare's robust infrastructure. They also offer an uptime monitoring tool, providing real-time visibility and reliability.
🏆Winner - Draw
No clear winner here. It's reassuring to see that both Rocket.net and Kinsta provide their own uptime tools for customers to monitor. Only time will reveal if there is any downtime and how each host responds during emergencies. I do wish Rocket.net could offer some form of downtime compensation.
Security Measures
Security in web hosting is crucial as it protects servers, networks, and files from breaches and unauthorized access. Let's examine how Rocket.net and Kinsta address this critical aspect:
Features | Rocket.net | Siteground |
|---|---|---|
DDos Protection | Yes | Yes |
Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Yes | Yes |
Security Plugin | No | No |
Daily Backups | 14 Days | 14 Days |
Malware Scanning | Yes, Free Real Time | Yes |
Both Rocket.net and Kinsta take security seriously, implementing enterprise-grade firewalls and DDoS protection to safeguard their systems.
Kinsta enhances its security using two layers of firewalls: an IP-based firewall from Google Cloud Platform and an enterprise-level firewall from Cloudflare. This dual approach ensures robust protection against a variety of threats.
On the other hand, Rocket.net also employs two firewalls—the Cloudflare Enterprise firewall and Imunify360. Imunify360 particularly helps protect against malware infections, adding an extra layer of security.
Security threats pop up every day, so it's super important to pick a hosting provider that keeps up with the latest tech to safeguard your data. I believe it's essential to find a host that maintains high security standards without compromising performance.
Rocket.net: Rocket.net takes security seriously, with robust measures to safeguard your website. Their firewall, DDoS detection, and automatic daily backups provide a shield against cyber threats. Rest assured that your digital assets are in safe hands.
Kinsta: Kinsta also prioritizes security, offering multiple layers of protection. Their platform includes firewalls, uptime monitoring, and automatic daily backups to keep your site secure and data intact.
🏆Winner - Draw
Kinsta, with its larger customer base, recently faced a phishing attack and has responded by enhancing its security protocols, including a dedicated malware team. In contrast, Rocket.net is newer with no reported major attacks and also maintains robust security measures. It's challenging to say definitively which is better without seeing how each handles a similar level of threat. Only a direct comparison during significant attacks will clearly show which provider's security is more effective.
Scalability and Growth Potential
As your website expands, it's essential that your hosting can keep up. Let's see how Rocket.net and Kinsta handle scalability:
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
Scalability Options | 14 Options | 7 Options |
Cloud Hosting Options | No | Yes |
Dedicated Server Options | Yes, 4 Options | No |
Traffic Handling | Yes | Yes |
Load Balancing | Yes | Yes |
When I look at scalability, I focus on four things: monthly visitor limits, storage space, number of installations, and CDN limits. Rocket.net is really generous with visitor counts on their starter plans, while Kinsta offers more bandwidth. For mid-level and enterprise plans, Rocket.net usually comes out on top.
Before jumping into a plan, there’s no need to stock up on more resources than you currently need. Just choose a plan that fits you right now and make sure the next level up is a good match for where you're heading. This way, you manage costs well and are set for growth when it's time to upgrade.
Rocket.net: Rocket.net is designed with scalability in mind. Whether you're a small blog or a growing e-commerce empire, their hosting adapts to your needs. You can seamlessly upgrade to higher plans as your website traffic soars, ensuring your growth is never hindered.
Kinsta: Kinsta also offers scalability options, allowing you to accommodate traffic spikes and expansion. With various hosting plans and the ability to upgrade, Kinsta ensures your site can grow without hiccups.
🏆Winner - Rocket.net
For WordPress scalability, Rocket.net clearly takes the lead with more generous visitor limits and higher-tier plans for larger sites, providing excellent value. In contrast, when considering hosting that includes web applications and databases, Kinsta shines with its robust offerings and extensive infrastructure, catering well to larger, more complex setups.
User-Friendly Control Panel
A user-friendly control panel can make managing your hosting a breeze. Let's see how Rocket.net and Kinsta stack up:
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
Control Panel | Custom | Custom |
One-click WordPress Install | Yes | Yes |
Intuitive Dashboard | Yes | Yes |
Rocket.net: Rocket.net boasts an intuitive custom control panel designed for ease of use. Navigating and managing your hosting environment is straightforward, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users.
Kinsta: Kinsta offers a user-friendly dashboard that simplifies the management of your hosting resources. With its clean interface and intuitive tools, you'll have no trouble handling your website's configuration.
🏆Winner - Kinsta
I like both control panels. Rocket is simple—in fact, so simple that I find there's nothing to play with. Kinsta's interface is more modern with more settings to use.
Customer Support and Assistance
When issues arise, reliable customer support can be a lifesaver. Let's examine the customer support offerings of Rocket.net and Kinsta:
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
24/7 Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
Phone Support | Yes, Enterprise only | No |
Extensive Knowledge Base | No | Yes |
Ticket System | Yes | No |
Rocket.net: Rocket.net prides itself on a support team of hosting experts, available 24/7 via chat for speedy problem resolution. They aim to provide you with the assistance you need, precisely when you need it.
Kinsta: Kinsta also offers 24/7 support, with a team of professionals ready to assist you via chat. Their commitment to timely support ensures that you have a helping hand whenever issues arise.
🏆Winner - Rocket.net
Kinsta's support is good, but there's no wow factor; you still have to wait. Rocket.net support is almost instant, requiring just 2 clicks to enter a chat. Plus, you're talking directly to their engineers who can quickly resolve issues.
Pricing and Plans
Features | Rocket.net | Kinsta |
|---|---|---|
Entry-Level Price | From $30 / mo | From $35 / mo |
Renewal Price | From $30 / mo | From $35 / mo |
High-End Price | From $649 / mo | From $675 / mo |
Money Back Guarantee | 30 Days | 30 Days |
Rocket.net pricing starts at $30 per month with a total of 17 price plans. You can get started for just $1 for the first month. There's a 30-day money-back guarantee available for all our services, except for Enterprise hosting plans. Save 16.67% with annual billing.
Kinsta pricing starts at $35 per month with a total of 10 paid plans. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and two months free on annual plans.
🏆Winner - Rocket.net
Both Kinsta and Rocket.net position themselves as premium WordPress hosting providers. Rocket.net offers more value and its price is slightly more affordable than Kinsta. So, it's a no-brainer here.
When to Choose Rocket.net
Choose Rocket.net if you:
When to Choose Kinsta
Choose Kinsta if you:
Both Rocket.net and Kinsta are not suitable if you:
Best Alternatives:
When seeking the best WordPress web hosting, consider these top alternatives to Rocket and Kinsta:
Best for Shared Host with Fast TTFB Speed
Hostinger
Fast TTFB, affordable pricing, and generous storage space make it a top choice for hosting your website.
Coming Soon ➔
Best for Overall Shared Web Hosting
Siteground
An all-rounder with bundled email, exceptional support, and the power of Google Cloud for reliable hosting solutions.
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Wrapping Up
Both Rocket.net and Kinsta excel in speed, ensuring your website loads lightning fast. When deciding, consider factors like scalability, pricing, and support.
No matter your choice, Rocket.net's speed or Kinsta's global reach will boost your website's performance. Your hosting journey begins with selecting the partner that suits your goals best.
Happy hosting and success for your site!