HostPapa is a Canadian-based web host founded in 2009. HostPapa is one of the cheapest eco-friendly web hosts on the market, powering their servers, data centers, and offices with 100% renewable energy. As well as shared hosting plans, they also offer VPS and reseller services.

HostPapa Pricing and Plans Summary

With ever-changing prices and discounts, these HostPapa pricing plans are subject to change at any point, but here's the latest. We've highlighted their most notable plans and features.

Plan	Start	Plus	Pro	Ultra
Sale Price	$2.95/mo	$5.95/mo	$5.95/mo	$12.95/mo
Regular Price	$8.95/mo	$10.95/mo	$10.95/mo	$17.95/mo
Websites Hosted	1	10	Unlimited	Unlimited
SSD Storage	100GB	100GB	Unlimited	Unlimited
Domain Name	Free	Free	Free	Free
Support	24/7	24/7	24/7	24/7
Uptime	99.9%	99.9%	99.9%	99.9%
Website Transfer	Free	Free	Free	Free
CDN	Free Cloudflare	Free Cloudflare	Free Cloudflare	Free Cloudflare
SSL	Free Let's Encrypt	Free Let's Encrypt	Free Let's Encrypt	Free Let's Encrypt
Money-back Guarantee	30 days	30 days	30 days	30 days
Email	Unlimited Accounts	Unlimited Accounts	Unlimited Accounts	Unlimited Accounts
Auto-Installed WordPress		Yes	Yes	Yes
WordPress Super Caching		Yes	Yes	Yes
Resource Scaling			Self-Managed or Fully Managed
Root Access			Yes
More Details	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More

What Makes HostPapa Different?

For an environmentally conscious hosting company, HostPapa is very affordable and offers everything most novice website builders could need.

HostPapa is ideal for the environmentally-minded customer who wants to create a simple website and doesn't anticipate a ton of traffic or email capabilities. But an array of hidden fees and limitations may be frustrating to anyone who plans to be more hands-on with their website. While they offer upgraded plans that may do the job, HostPapa pricing isn't cheap, and the basic plan leaves much to be desired.

Our Official HostPapa Review

HostPapa is packaged in internationally-minded and environmentally friendly rhetoric that is undeniably attractive to many customers.

And they cover all the basics, with unlimited bandwidth, an uptime guarantee, and support in multiple languages to boot. But HostPapa seriously lacks scalability when it comes to their shared hosting plans, with lots of important features and considerations missing from their basic plan or accessible only by paying hidden fees.

Read on to decide if their services are right for you.

Best Features of HostPapa Hosting

Finally! A green web host that is actually affordable! If you want to have some peace of mind about the carbon footprint of your simple webpage, HostPapa pricing makes them an easy choice. HostPapa's most basic plan costs just $6/month, whereas competitor GreenGeeks costs $10. Other companies like A2 Hosting and Dreamhost participate in carbon offsetting programs, but HostPapa is completely green for a very affordable price.

1. 100% Powered by Renewable Energy Sources

Lately more hosting companies have started to discuss their efforts to promote a more eco-friendly service, whether that be by giving their employees the option of working from home or selling special plans for green hosting. HostPapa, however, is the only hosting company we know of that truly integrates sustainability into its corporate mission. From their employees' laptops to the servers your site is hosted on, everything is powered by 100% renewable energy sources. Plus, all of their customers have the option of displaying their green-power badges on their sites. These efforts are commendable to be sure, and obviously, make them a great fit for any website with an environmental bent.

2. Uptime Guarantee

HostPapa offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and most Hostpapa reviews point to this being more or less true in practice. However, they don't seem to have an actual process in place to compensate their users when uptime dips below the guaranteed rate. You may need to call customer service to demand a refund if your uptime rate falls below the guarantee.

3. Unlimited Domains & Bandwidth

Every shared hosting plan that HostPapa offers features unlimited bandwidth, which is a lovely added bonus that will give you peace of mind in case your website ever goes viral. The cheapest plan only offers 2 domains (still better than many budget hosts), but their upgraded plans offer unlimited domains. Plus you'll get a completely free domain name with a one-year subscription to their services, a great perk that simplifies the process of getting your website up and running.

4. HostPapa WebMail Includes Robust Spam/Virus Protection

The most basic HostPapa plan includes 100 email addresses, and the upgraded plans include unlimited ones. This is more or less standard among web hosts, but HostPapa does a great job with their email security features that come included even with their basic plan. Some big-name competitors fall seriously short in this regard (We're looking at you, HostGator!).

5. HostPapa Support in Multiple Languages

HostPapa offers customer support in English, French, Spanish, and many more, with 18 total languages! Their website can also be completely translated into Spanish. Perhaps this doesn't matter to you if all of your staff speaks fluent English, but this feature could be a huge boon to any business with an international presence.

6. Scalable VPS & Reseller Plan Options

For people who wish to upgrade their website and grow their business, HostPapa offers three, scalable Linux-based and Windows-based VPS plans. They also offer five different levels of reseller account options. Each plan allows for unlimited domains, MySQL databases, 3 IP addresses, and flexible pricing dependent on the amount of disk space you need.

HostPapa Hosting Cons

HostPapa pricing may be great for such a green service, but when you compare their prices to the features that other hosting providers offer, they fall short in many areas. In addition, webmasters should watch out for hidden fees.

1. Expensive Cancellation Fees

HostPapa does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, there are hidden fees attached to this according to their Terms of Service. It appears they are profiting on the free domain name registration if you cancel – it will cost you $24.95 for the domain name registration plus a one-time setup fee of $19.95. That means that if you pay for two years upfront, which cost $118, you lose over $40 right off the bat.

2. HostPapa Support isn't Truly 24/7

HostPapa advertises having 24/7 support, but this isn't completely true. Support is 24 hours on weekdays, but on the weekends' customer service reps are only available from 6 am – 7 pm EST. Plus, there have been times we've waited over 10 minutes for a response via their live chat support. With that response time, we may as well have just sent an email.

3. HostPapa WordPress Integration – No Managed WordPress

HostPapa integrates with WordPress, Joomla, and more popular content management systems. However, they don't offer any managed WordPress plans. This is something to keep in mind if you plan to scale.

4. Serious Email Limitations on the Basic Plan

Sure, 100 email addresses may be plenty for a small business, but that seems like an empty number when the actual email server capacity is so low. Customers have reported reaching their mailbox limits after sending as little as 300 emails a day. With such a low cap, you can kiss any plans for a robust mailing list goodbye. You may be able to have 100 email addresses for your business, but your employees would need to limit their communications to 3 emails a day each. In order to avoid these limits, you'd need to pay for an upgraded plan. For about the same price per month, Site5 offers really robust email capabilities that are perfect for managing your mailing lists.

Bottom Line

On the surface, HostPapa looks attractive as a hosting company. They have an A+ rating with the BBB, take corporate responsibility seriously, and have an untarnished reputation overall. 

We wholeheartedly recommend HostPapa for environmentally-minded customers who intend to create a simple page that doesn't take a great deal of managing. But if you're looking for more robust features, there are plenty of other hosts who can offer more for cheaper. That being said, I might consider HostPapa over Bluehost or GoDaddy, I like that they're smaller and independent.

Check out the latest HostPapa discounts

HostPapa Hosting FAQs

What is HostPapa's money-back guarantee?

You can cancel your order with HostPapa within 30 days of your purchase.  Some fees and domain registrations may not be refunded, due to policy.  If you don’t put in a notification that you want to cancel, you won’t be eligible to receive a refund on your purchases.

What is the customer support process like at HostPapa?

HostPapa features a live chat option for customer support, which is typically the fastest way to reach someone.  You can also send an email or call to help you with any issues you’re having with your website.  When you place your ticket, you will see where you are in the queue.  You can put in your ticket and you’ll be able to see when your number is coming up through the website. HostPapa offers support in French, English, and Spanish. While they offer 24/7 support, response times tend to be longer during off hours.

Does HostPapa work on mobile?

HostPapa offers an app for iOS and Android devices. While using the app, you won’t have to sign in through the website.  The view on the devices is slightly abridged from the regular website, and you will need to sign into the website if you need selective services.  Otherwise, you should be able to use the app for basic access on the go.

Where are the HostPapa servers located?

HostPapa's main headquarters are in Toronto, Canada.  They have state-of-the-art security to protect the property and excellent cybersecurity for every client.

What products does HostPapa offer?

HostPapa has hosting plans for individuals and businesses alike.  They offer a variety of products and services, including web hosting, reseller hosting, mobile website services, Google Apps hosting and builders, Site Lock security and certification, CloudFlare, and email marketing solutions.  You can tailor your services to your needs to effectively run your website.

How can I renew my domain?

To renew your domain, you will need to log into your HostPapa account.  You can choose the “Domains” option from the menu, and then select the ones you want to renew.  Then select the “Renewal Options” tab, where you can click on “Renew Now” and then submit.  It will take you to a page where you can confirm your choices and then process your payment.

Will I lose my domain if I don't renew?

If your domain expires before you have the chance to renew, you have some options.  You do have a five-day window to renew your domain after the expiration date, after which, any notifications will be halted.  If you don’t renew your domain, it expires and is considered abandoned.  You have at least 31 days after expiration to try to reclaim it from the holding period, but it may be purchased by a third party, in which you’ll lose the rights to the domain.  However, if after 44 days, it has not been purchased, it will enter a 30-day Redemption Grace Period where you can purchase the domain again.  It is more expensive to go this route, but it is possible to reclaim the domain if you don’t renew it.

What does it mean if my domain is in “Redemption”?

The redemption period can last 30 days after the initial renewal grace period.  You can claim the domain which includes a $70 fee and a normal renewal fee.  Since it is more expensive to try to reclaim a domain, it’s better to renew before it expires.  You can set the auto-renewal to ensure you never miss a payment.

Is there an auto-renew option for my domain?

Yes, this is a security feature that comes as a default option with every domain purchase.  If you don’t want the auto-renew feature on your domain, you will need to change it manually.  It prevents domains from expiring by accident so you don’t lose your website.  15 days before a domain is set to expire, the auto-renews are billed to the linked information you provided.

12. Can I add more CPU, RAM, or storage to my WordPress account

You can do this through the “Add Resources” link under the “Add-ons” tab in the HostPapa control panel.  There is an extra cost for certain products you will need to consider.  If you need to downgrade, you can also go that route, especially if you’re paying for products you’re not using.

What does OHWM stand for?

OHWM is an acronym for Optimized Hosting for WordPress.  It is a managed WordPress hosting service through HostPapa.  It’s ideal for optimizing the WordPress experience and offers fast and secure products.  It’s an excellent way to use WordPress for any blog platform.

What is ManageWP?

ManageWP is a program used by HostPapa that allows the user to access multiple WordPress sites. You can access the program from the Control Panel, or the ManageWP website.  There are plenty of tools and features to enhance your experience with WordPress, and bring more traffic to your site.

If my website goes down, will my account be moved to another server?

If a server is down, HostPapa will work to get the server back up and running as soon as possible.  It is rare for servers to go down, and moving your site to another server will actually take longer than if you were to simply wait for us to restore the server.  Furthermore, if a server is being maintained it would be impossible for us to access your site in order to move it to another server. While HostPapa does apologize for the inconvenience, it would not be easier or faster to move your site to another server in a timely manner.

When are updates typically scheduled?

When an update is scheduled, HostPapa will send out notifications via email to every client.  Emergency situations may occur during the day, which will shut down the servers.  HostPapa will work quickly and efficiently to ensure the servers are properly maintained.  HostPapa takes into consideration the amount of potential traffic to ensure it won’t inhibit the maximum number of consumers to any website.

What is a rebuild tree?

A rebuild tree is a shared web host server that contains millions of different files.  When there is a high volume of traffic to a shared server, corruption can occur at the site.  The rebuild tree or file systems check fixes the corruption, and this process can take anywhere from one to four hours.  In certain cases, it’s possible the system can take up to eight.