Alex’s Guide is reader-supported, and purchases made through our affiliate links help us earn a commission. Read more.
GreenGeeks Review: Is This Eco-Friendly Host Any Good?
Updated on December 3, 2023 – Written By: Shant Alexanian
In this GreenGeeks hosting review, we’ll be covering everything, from pricing and ease of use to security, customer support, performance, and more.
With the web hosting industry being so cutthroat, how does one make their company stand out? GreenGeeks has found the answer.
GreenGeeks primary focus on being environmentally friendly is the main reason for its success. For example, instead of carelessly using resources and contributing to waste, GreenGeeks only uses them when necessary. GreenGeeks replenishes 3x the amount of energy it consumes from the grid through renewable energy credits.
Not only is GreenGeeks committed to hosting that benefits the environment – its services have also received high acclaim.“Such things as” fast speed, top security, easiest scalability, and exceptional customer support,” this hosting company certainly has a lot to boast about its impressive features.
So, we went ahead and purchased a shared hosting plan from GreenGeeks; now let’s go through all the nooks and crannies of this provider.
Pros and Cons of GreenGeeks
Pros
- Easy to use cPanel integration
- Free setup and lifetime domain name
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Lots of unlimited features
- Powerful security package
- Datacenters in the US, Canada, and the Netherlands
- Great customer support
- 100% green energy
Cons
- Standard prices are far above average
- SSL certificate is not activated automatically
- No blog or forum
- Website migration from another host is not too easy
- Slow server
- Difficult canceling hosting account
GreenGeeks Plans and Pricing
GreenGeeks cheapest shared hosting plan starts at $2.95/mo. making it a financially viable option for most people. Not only does GreenGeeks offers shared hosting, the most popular solution, but they also offer WordPress, reseller hosting, and VPS.
Hosting type Best for:
Shared hosting is the best option for people who are just starting with their online presence. It is a cost-effective way to get your website up and running without having to invest in your own server. You will be sharing resources with other websites on the same server, which can help keep your costs down.
WordPress hosting is the best option for people who aim to have their website look professional and easily accessible to customers. It offers a wide variety of features and plugins to users, which makes it a popular choice among those seeking an easy way to build and maintain a website.
VPS hosting is the best option for people who want a high-quality, Premium product without having to fully commit to a dedicated server. For smaller-scale businesses or someone just trying to get their feet wet in the hosting scene, a VPS can be perfect.
Reseller hosting is ideal for anyone looking to start their own web hosting business. It’s a cost-effective way to get your business up and running, without having to invest in your own infrastructure.
As a reseller, you’ll be able to offer your customers a variety of hosting plans and options, all under your own brand. This makes it easy to build a strong and loyal customer base.
The small number of hosting services offered by GreenGeeks looks deceptive- but don’t let that fool you; the company packs a wide range of effective hosting options, including shared hosting, which is still the most popular hosting option.
Shared hosting means that your website shares a server with other websites. This option is popular because it is generally cheaper than other options compared to dedicating a server for just your website. So, in this GreenGeeks hosting review, we’ll be focusing mainly on shared hosting.
GreenGeeks has three different shared hosting plans to choose from, priced at $2.95/mo, $4.95/mo, and $8.95 monthly respectively.
All of GreenGeeks plans include unmetered transfers, unlimited bandwidth, and databases as well as managed WordPress, caching plugins, and multi-user access. Plus, GreenGeeks offers multiple free add-ons to sweeten the deal even further: an SSL certificate, a domain for a year, daily backup services, and CDN.
Of course, there are also distinctive features:
Let’s look at the plans, features, and prices
Lite plan If you only need to host one website, the Lite plan is perfect for you. You’ll get 50GB of storage and 50 email accounts for just $2.95 per month.
The Pro plan gives you an unlimited amount of disk space, websites, email accounts, and on-demand backups. It also comes with a WordPress repair tool and better performance. This plan costs $4.95 per month.
With the Premium plan, you’ll get all the features that come with the Pro plan, plus a free dedicated IP and AlphaSSL for added security. Plus, object caching which helps your pages load faster. $8.95 per month.
GreenGeeks is very generous with its resources and features. Although the entry hosting plan (Lite) doesn’t have a lot of storage space, 50GB should be enough for most small websites. GreenGeeks makes up for that downside by throwing in domain names, daily backups, and built-in caching – all generous freebies. Not to mention, GreenGeeks is affordable compared to other providers.
Best Bang for Your Buck:
The Pro plan is the best deal you will get; choose a 36/mo. subscription. The Pro plan costs only $2.00 more per month than the Lite Plan, and it comes with on-demand backups of your website data, a WordPress repair tool to fix any errors or broken pages, unlimited websites that you can manage from one central location, unlimited email accounts for each website domain, and unlimited storage space.
Keep the following tips in mind before pulling the trigger, so that you can be sure you’re getting exactly what you need. If at any point within the first 30 days of using GreenGeeks, you are not satisfied with their service, they will offer a full refund, thus giving you peace of mind and ample time to switch hosts if needed.
GreenGeeks tries to sell you additional products during checkout, but they’re not too aggressive about it like other hosting companies. Be sure to uncheck any default add-ons that you don’t want, like WHOIS privacy, before finalizing your purchase.
To sum it up, GreenGeeks is an excellent hosting service provider that gives you a lot of value for your money. For a fair price, you receive top-notch server resources, cutting-edge features, and a security package that covers all the bases.
Hosting Management: Is GreenGeeks Control Panel Easy to Use?
In terms of ease of use, GreenGeeks hosting is one of the easiest platforms to use. The clear and sleek dashboard, which is easy to use and comes paired with cPanel, offers a lot of power. This combination creates a management experience that is both easy to use and functional for people with any level of experience.
This is what the main dashboard of GreenGeeks looks like:
The dashboard is one of the most popular features among GreenGeeks hosting users, and it’s easy to see why.
The design of the dashboard is sleek, simple to understand, and user-friendly. Most importantly, it’s highly functional. You can manage your email accounts, SSLs, domains, databases, and files from here. You’re even able to track resource usage and site staging. The cPanel is essentially the control center for your website. From here, you can manage every aspect of your site with just a few clicks.
If you need to manage more complex website functions, GreenGeeks also provides cPanel. If you’re not a fan of WordPress, no problem – cPanel is the only place where you can install the CMS of your choice.
GreenGeeks control panel
Although most web hosting providers offer cPanel, GreenGeeks has decided to take it a step further by customizing its design. The control panel is not only user-friendly and simple to use but it’s perfectly organized for those with zero experience.
The sidebar to your right includes general information and statistics about your site. On the center of the screen is where you’ll find all the tools that you need to run your website.
In addition, let’s discuss GreenGeeks cPanel:
- By using GreenGeeks’ cPanel hosting, you can create a website that will look great on any device and is easy to navigate. With only one click, you can add an unlimited number of email accounts and install any web software, such as WordPress or Joomla! Not only does GreenGeek offer an instant self-service site builder, which makes creating a website easy without having to learn HTML or web design, but they also provide a wide range of tutorials to help you get started.
- GreenGeeks is equipped to handle any size website you have with an unlimited amount of data transfers and disk space. GreenGeeks servers are equipped with the latest cPanel technology and housed in state-of-the-art data centers to make sure your site is running at its optimal speed. So, you won’t have to worry about choosing between quality and affordability for the price.
- GreenGeeks cPanel web hosting service makes website creation a breeze by automating the entire process. The tools you’ll have access to are the same ones professionals use, and you don’t need to learn any HTML or PHP coding languages. Also, with just one click, you can add email accounts and install WordPress or any other content management system without needing any technical experience.
- Other GreenGeeks web hosting management tasks include managing databases, files and editing within File Manager, configuring SEO tools, and more.
Overall, GreenGeeks is advantageous because it includes a cPanel for hosting management. The beauty of the cPanel lies in its simplicity- any novice could understand and use it effectively, but more experienced users will find that it contains everything they need for advanced hosting management.
How to Install WordPress with Softaculous
Softaculous automates the installation of management systems- making things much easier for the user. For this instance, it will install WordPress and its associated database after you input some basic information. Even if you don’t know how to code, this method for creating a website is easy.
In this short tutorial, I’ll show you how simple it is to install WordPress on GreenGeeks using Softaculous. You can start promoting your website and building something amazing in just a few minutes.
Step 1: Open the Softaculous App Installer
All GreenGeeks hosting plans come with cPanel to manage your website easily. This Administrative Dashboard gives you full authority over your website.
To install WordPress from your cPanel, simply scroll down to the Softaculous Apps Installer and click “WordPress.”
Step 2: Click Install WordPress
In the Softaculous script window, find the “Install Now” button and click it. The Softaculous software always has the most recent version of WordPress available. If you’d like to install an older version, you will have to do it manually.
The following screen will require you to input your website’s settings. I’ll go over them with you briefly:
- Software Setup
- This section pertains to whether your site uses SSL protocols. From the drop-down options, select the “HTTPS:” version you want to use. Furthermore, you will select your domain name. If you only have one domain name, it will be displayed by default. Otherwise, choose a domain from the list if you have more than one.
- Site Settings
- This is some general information about your website. You’ll enter your site’s name and a brief description. The WordPress system uses this for identification purposes, as do most themes. Please note that this will also be a contributing factor in search engine optimization, so make sure the provided information is something you want customers to see when they Google your business.
- Admin Account
- Choose a username and password you want to use to log into WordPress. Just a heads up, bots, and hackers will often try to use “admin” as the administrator username when they want to get into your website, so we recommend not using it. Make it something one of a kind.
- Admin Email Address
- This address is used exclusively by WordPress and is not accessible to the public. The plugins you install may also use this email to send you messages or updates. You can also use it to recover forgotten passwords.
- Choose Language
- By default, WordPress is set to English. However, you can change the language to better suit your needs and website.
- Select Plugins
- Softaculous comes with a couple of select plugins that you can use if you want.GreenGeeks features the plugins “Loginizer” and “WPForms Lite.” If you want to protect your login screen and create forms, then these two plugins are exactly what you need. By checking or unchecking the boxes, you can enable or disable these optional plugins.
- Advanced Options
- Advanced options are for users who are confident with databases and understand how to upgrade and control backup settings. If you’re a new user, we would highly suggest leaving these settings as they are. However, feel free to change them to better suit your needs if you wish.
- Select Theme
- WordPress comes with a few themes that you can use right away. These files control how your website looks. In Softaculous, you can select from an expansive array of layouts. Choose the theme you want to install with WordPress and let Softaculous do the rest. Just a heads up: You can change your theme whenever you want and how frequently you want.
NOTE: You can assign an email address to receive installation details at the bottom of the screen below the “Install” button. Although it’s optional, it may be helpful to keep a record of the process.
After you have finished adjusting WordPress settings to your satisfaction, click “Install” at the bottom of the page.
Softaculous will analyze your given information and settings while installing the WordPress CMS onto your website.
After you finish installing Softaculous, it will give you a couple of links. The first link is for your new website, and the second one is for the admin address. Click the link next to “Administrative URL” to be taken directly to the login screen for your site.
Now that you have WordPress installed, it’s time to start creating content and building a stunning site that people will enjoy. WordPress provides a stable platform whether your goal is to start making money from blogging or to sell products through an online store. Get creative and design the next big thing in online culture.
To sum it up, as you can see from this GreenGeeks tutorial, adding WordPress with Softaculous is easy. If you follow the simple steps above, you will be able to install WordPress on your website in no time at all. We did not have any problems with the process and found it to be very easy to complete – all the steps were self-explanatory.
Installing Let’s Encrypt SSL to Your GreenGeeks Account
Unfortunately, you will have to set up your SSL with GreenGeeks. However, you can do so easily by following the steps below:
Adding an SSL certificate to your GreenGeeks hosting account is a quick and easy process. Just log into your account and follow the instructions below.
On the left side of your GreenGeeks dashboard, select the “Security” tab.
On the top right of the screen, click on the button that says, “Add SSL Certificate”.
Select a service from the drop-down box (your primary domain name) and choose which domain you want to add it to.
Once you have chosen your account, now click the “Continue” button to move forward.
On this next screen, you will have two options to choose from.
There are two options for installing an SSL certificate: AlphaSSL Wildcard or Let’s Encrypt. There are a few key differences between the two, the most notable being that Let’s Encrypt SSL is free while AlphaSSL has an annual cost.
In this tutorial, we will be diving into how to install and set up Let’s Encrypt.
Click on the green “Select Let’s Encrypt” button.
Note: you should verify that you have chosen the correct domain name from the start before you click the confirm and create button.
Now click on the “Confirm and Create” button to finalize the installation process.
Click the “Install SSL Certificate” button on the next page to launch the GreenGeeks auto-installer.
NOTE: Step 5 might prompt you with the following message:
Error 54: Waiting on DNS verification. Please try again in 30 minutes. If this error is still happening after two hours, you will have to get in touch with Support.
When you enable Let’s Encrypt for the first time on your domain, this error usually pops up. The reason for this is that Let’s Encrypt uses DNS-based authentication. It may take around 30 minutes for the changes to propagate.
Once the system acknowledges your domain name, you won’t need to wait for additional changes to your account. If you remove the SSL and then add it again later, you likely won’t see this error message again.
After Let’s Encrypt validates the domain, click “Install SSL Certificate” to finish the installation.
All in all, GreenGeeks is a very user-friendly company. Their user interface is easy to understand and use, while the cPanel provides users with a wealth of options and features.
GreenGeeks Performance and Uptime
GreenGeeks continues to be at the top of its game, even when it comes to performing well. GreenGeeks is a reliable and quick web hosting service; Furthermore, even on their most affordable shared plan, their servers were super fast.
To start, we ran a test to measure the host’s uptime using Uptime Robot:
To guarantee maximum efficiency, we monitored GreenGeeks Hosting for over 70 hours. During this time, GreenGeeks experienced 1 downtime that was recorded on 2023-01-13 at 7:48:03 and the downtime lasted for 3 minutes, as you can see in the screenshot below, GreenGeeks Hosting drastically exceeded expectations by sustaining an impressive 99.92% uptime over 70 hours! This is remarkable and demonstrates how reliable this hosting company truly is.
Even though GreenGeeks experienced a 3-minute downtime, which could have been due to server maintenance, it does not mean that GreenGeeks is a bad hosting provider. We love GreenGeeks hosting; it’s one of the fastest hosting providers we’ve tested so far.
To top it off, GreenGeeks had a fast response time of 174ms. Their response time was nothing short of exceptional and lightning-fast.
Despite that, the response time of 174ms is way lower than the standard 600ms industry standard surpassing all our expectations.
All in all, GreenGeeks is a reliable hosting provider with great uptime and lightning-fast response time, and we highly recommend them.
GreenGeeks Hosting speed
This test for this GreenGeeks review is a speed test to find out how fast the host can load up an empty and fully-built website.
To make sure you understand the results, here are 4 important metrics:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – The time it takes to load the largest chunk of a page, It’s important to note that Google takes website page loading speed into account when determining where to rank sites on its search result page. If you want the best results, keep your LCP under 2.5 seconds.
- Fully Loaded Time – A website’s loading time is specified by the time it takes for the site to be fully functional. If a website takes more than 4 seconds to load, users are likely to get frustrated and leave; therefore, websites must aim to avoid long loading times.
- First Content Paint– How fast your text or images load on your page. A great user experience is 0.9s or even shorter.
- Speed Index– How fast the content on your page is visible to users. A good user experience is 1.3s or less.
To start, we began by testing the load time of an empty WordPress site from three different locations. The hosting plan we chose for the test was the EcoSite Lite plan. Since our site is hosted in the US, we saw the best results there as well. The LCP score in the US was only 168ms.
Meanwhile, the GreenGeeks results in the UK and India were not as good as expected, at 824ms and 2.1s. Even so, all three servers still managed to load in under 2.5 seconds- the metric set by Google.
The screenshot below shows GreenGeeks performance on an empty site. The test server location was in Chicago, IL, USA.
Not too bad in the US, even though the results were expected since the test was performed on a US server. The fully loaded time was 193ms now that’s incredibly fast.
Now, what would happen if we switched the empty site to a fully-built one?
By fully building the site, the LCP only went up to 807ms. Now that’s impressive speed. It fully loaded in under 2.5 seconds with a 4-page WordPress website containing around 14 images on the homepage, see screenshot below.
The Fully Loaded Time for the website was incredibly fast at 808ms, which is only a quarter of the recommended maximum time of 3 seconds.
The screenshot below shows more detailed metrics for the completed site.
As you can see from the screenshot above that even with a fully built-out website GreenGeeks performed well with a speed index time of 785ms, that’s less than a second now that’s impressive.
By choosing a server that is geographically close to your target audience, you will maintain good page load speed. GreenGeeks provides three data center options to choose from, which are the following: Chicago (US), Montreal (Canada), and Amsterdam (Netherlands).
To put it succinctly, GreenGeeks loads incredibly quickly. Its LCP and Fully Loaded Time were both well below the set standards.
Overall, GreenGeeks earned our approval for meeting all our performance standards. Its web hosting is very reliable and fast.
Security: How Secure is GreenGeeks?
When it comes to security, GreenGeeks takes a very serious approach. GreenGeeks offers a comprehensive security solution that includes both basic and advanced features. Some of the security measures include free SSL certificates, daily backup, DDoS protection, and much more.
Here are some of GreenGeeks’ primary security features:
- SSL certificates – Every shared hosting plan includes a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate that can be activated with ease from your Cpanel. The Premium plan comes with the free AlphaSSL certificate, which is much more advanced. Alternatively, you can purchase the AlphaSSL certificate on its own at around $49.95 per year.
- Automatic backups – GreenGeeks offers complimentary nightly backups for all of their plans. If you want more control over your backups, consider the Pro or Premium plan which offers on-demand backup.
- Malware scanning and cleanup – GreenGeeks round-the-clock security scanning protects your website from malware and their support team will fix any hacked issues for free
- Server monitoring – GreenGeeks vigilantly checks their servers for any lags or issues every 10 seconds from various international locations. Furthermore, GreenGeeks continuously runs health checks to ensure that FTP, HTTPD, MySQL, and other critical services are properly running.
To sum it up, GreenGeeks security is very strong and comprehensive, which makes it a good option for one of the most secure hosts out there. To keep you safe from online threats, GreenGeeks has a variety of security measures in place.
Support: Will I Receive any Support From GreenGeeks When Needed?
GreenGeeks provides three support avenues: 24/7 live chat, email (wait time of roughly 2-5 minutes), and phone support Mon-Sun: 9 AM to 12 AM EST. If that doesn’t help, its knowledge base is sizeable and usually has the answers you need.
We did have an issue with GreenGeeks while trying to check out:
Here’s what happened. Our credit card kept declining while trying to check out. We reached out to the bank to see if they were blocking the purchase but that wasn’t the case. The problem was from their end. We called and spoke to a friendly guy in the billing department, but unfortunately, he couldn’t figure out the problem.
So, what he did was open a ticket for the issue. From here on we were communicating through email. The final fix was them running our credit card using Paypal with our permission. The whole ordeal took around 2.5 hours to get right. This was an inconvenience for sure. We must say though, their support was very responsive through it all.
Just to note, this was us trying to resign for the host. We had purchased GreenGeeks in the past and were using the same credit card they had on file to check out. Maybe this was the cause for the credit card to decline, who knows, just guessing. You might not experience any of the issues we did.
The main form of support for this company is live chat. A service agent typically responds quickly and assists. Our experience with the agents has been professional. They fixed the problem we had.
If you want to avoid human interaction, go straight to GreenGeeks massive knowledge base. Their website contains a wealth of articles on various topics, all written with clarity and precision. If you require aid with GreenGeeks nameservers or a step-by-step guide to clear the Litespeed cache, look no further. You will find all the answers you need right here.
Overall, GreenGeeks customer support is good. The company’s agents are knowledgeable and efficient, and they will work with you to fix any hiccups that arise. Plus, the company’s knowledge base is comprehensive and user-friendly.
GreenGeeks Review – Final Verdict
All our research and testing for this GreenGeeks review has led us to believe that they are a top-tier web hosting company. This provider is extremely comprehensive and covers all the bases. Not only is it affordable and easy to use, but it’s also fast and secure as well. We highly recommend them.
Who do we recommend GreenGeeks to?
All things considered, we recommend GreenGeeks for beginners, budget-friendly shoppers, and experienced users looking for an easy hosting solution. packed with features, simple to use, quick, and highly secure -GreenGeeks is one of the best options on our list.
Alternatives to GreenGeeks
Although GreenGeeks has received excellent reviews all over the internet, it may not be the best hosting company for you. Don’t worry, there are many great hosting solutions out there. The three best alternatives are Hostinger, Bluehost, and DreamHost.
Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the three hosting providers officially recommended by WordPress. Known for its expansive selection of hosting services, with a particular focus on WordPress, Bluehost offers affordable prices, and great performance.
Hostinger
Hostinger is another well-known player in the web hosting space that offers excellent hosting services at very affordable prices.With its custom control panel, essential security features, and extremely efficient customer support.
DreamHost
DreamHost is a WordPress-based host that starts at just $2.59/mo. making it both affordable and reliable for customers.DreamHost has many positive attributes, including ease of use, good performance, rich security features, and more.
FAQs About GreenGeeks Web Hosting Review
What is GreenGeeks hosting?
GreenGeeks is a web hosting service provider that has been in business for over 15 years and is currently hosting over 600,000 websites. The company offers a variety of services to its customers, including shared hosting, virtual private servers, and WordPress hosting.
GreenGeeks is one of the few Web hosting providers that are completely carbon-neutral, meaning that they offset all of their energy use with renewable energy credits.
Is GreenGeeks legit?
Yes, GreenGeeks is a legitimate web hosting provider with more than 15 years of experience and over 600,000 websites hosted.
How much does GreenGeeks cost?
GreenGeeks shared hosting starts at $2.95 per month when you sign up for 12 months.
Is GreenGeeks right for You?
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard of GreenGeeks. They are one of the most popular web hosting providers on the market today, and they offer a variety of plans to suit different needs. So, is GreenGeeks right for you?
The answer may depend on what you are looking for in a web host. If you are primarily concerned with price, then GreenGeeks may not be the best option. Although they are competitively priced, other hosts offer cheaper plans. However, if you place a premium on environmental sustainability, then GreenGeeks is worth considering.
They offset all their energy use with renewable energy credits, so you can be sure that your website is running on green power. In addition, they offer several features that can help you to run a more efficient website, such as an easy-to-use control panel and unlimited email accounts with their pro and premium plan. So, if sustainability is important to you, GreenGeeks is worth checking out.
What makes GreenGeeks unique?
What makes GreenGeeks unique is its eco-friendly hosting.GreenGeeks is known for taking effective carbon footprint offset steps, such as replenishing 3x the amount of energy it consumes from the grid with renewable energy credits.
What is eco-friendly hosting?
Eco-friendly hosting is a term used to describe hosting services that take measures to reduce their impact on the environment. This can include using renewable energy sources, offsetting carbon emissions, and improving energy efficiency.
By choosing an eco-friendly host, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint while supporting a company that is working to make a positive difference.
In addition, many eco-friendly hosts also offer other green features, such as recycling options and support for environmentally friendly initiatives. By opting for an eco-friendly host, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you are doing your part to protect the environment.
Does GreenGeeks use cPanel?
Yes, GreenGeeks uses cPanel as its web hosting control panel. cPanel is a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your website. With cPanel, you can easily create email accounts, add databases, and install applications with just a few clicks.
Furthermore, cPanel comes with a variety of tools that help you troubleshoot problems and optimize your website. Overall, cPanel is an excellent choice for web hosting.
How does GreenGeeks keep your site secure?
When it comes to website security, GreenGeeks is committed to providing its customers with the best possible protection. Their security package is all-encompassing and comes with a free SSL certificate, DDoS protection, malware scanning, and removal are all included., among many other features. This makes it easy to keep your site secure, while also providing peace of mind knowing that your data is safe.
What’s more, GreenGeeks also offers a wide range of other features to help you better protect your site, including free nightly backup, 24/7 monitoring, and a customer support team that is always available to help you with any security issues you may encounter. With GreenGeeks, you can be confident that your site is always secure.