JustHost Reviews of 2021
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Our Verdict: Outstanding Choice for Affordable Plans
JustHost offers a variety of affordable hosting plans for sites of all sizes. Their packages come with features that make it easy for you to create and manage a personal or business website, including a free domain, unlimited email accounts, and cPanel access.
With over 100 user reviews, our community has given JustHost an average score of 2.5/5 for quality and value. Below, we’ll go over JustHost’s features, plans, and everything else you need to know about this provider.
You can learn more about other providers in our post on the best web hosting options. And if you decide to stick with JustHost, you can save more than 50% on their plans with our special discount link.
Quick Overview
JustHost was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Orem, Utah. They provide shared, dedicated, VPS, and reseller hosting solutions.
JustHost is one of many hosting companies owned by Endurance International Group (EIG). When EIG’s HostClear brand closed for business, JustHost was the recommended replacement for their cPanel customers.
The company provides excellent customer service, prides themselves on competitive pricing, and also offers features designed specifically for WordPress users.
If you’re interested in JustHost, you can try it out risk-free with their 30-day money-back guarantee. And even if you decide to leave after that 30-day period, you’ll receive a prorated refund according to the time remaining on your contract.
Pros and Cons of JustHost
Before we get into more detailed information, let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages to using this provider:
| Pros | Cons |
| >User-friendly interface >24/7 live support >Free domain registration | >Backups provided but not guaranteed >A few resource limits are placed on shared hosting packages |
JustHost Hosting Plans
The lowest introductory price offered by JustHost is $3.95 per month for their Basic shared hosting plan ($11.99 per month after renewal).
Overall, their shared hosting plans are similar to what you’d find with most other providers. The Basic plan works for one website and includes unmetered bandwidth, 50 GB of storage space, and a free SSL certificate. By upgrading, you can access extra features such as more websites, more storage space, and SpamExperts spam prevention.
WordPress Hosting
Although there are no managed WordPress hosting plans available, JustHost does make the process of setting up and hosting a WordPress website very straightforward.
You also have the option to enable automatic WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates via the cPanel, which is typically a managed hosting feature.
Dedicated Hosting
JustHost’s dedicated hosting solution is for those with large websites experiencing lots of daily traffic.
These plans come with features like instant setup, automatic RAID 1 protection, root access, enhanced caching abilities, server management, and dedicated support.
VPS Hosting
Built using powerful cloud technology, JustHost’s VPS hosting plans come with root access, an enhanced cPanel, guaranteed server resources, instant setup, and multi-account management.
JustHost Hosting Features
Here are some key features you’ll get with a JustHost account, regardless of the plan you choose:
Control Panel and Databases
JustHost’s interface ensures that you have access to all the server-side services and databases you could possibly need. This is what you see once you log in to your control panel:
Some of JustHost’s most popular services include:
- MySQL and PostgreSQL databases
- CGI-BIN and CGI Library
- Perl 5
- Python
- Ruby/Ruby on Rails
- Javascript, DHTML, Flash, and Shockwave support
PHP 7 Supported
JustHost supports both PHP 5 and PHP 7.
That’s good news because PHP 7 is nearly twice as fast and ensures that poor speed and performance are a non-issue for your site’s visitors.
Free Website Scripts
JustHost makes SimpleScripts available to all website owners. Here are some of the things you can do with this perk:
- Create a message forum using PHPBB
- Install social networking scripts
- Build a bigger email list
- Add image galleries
- Create polls and surveys to boost user engagement
In addition, you can integrate Moodle, Tikiwiki, and content management systems like Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress with an easy one-click install.
E-Commerce Features
If you want to launch an e-commerce shop, JustHost has you covered.
The most important features needed to run a successful online store are included here:
- Free SSL certificate (with premium ones available)
- OSCommerce, Agora, Cube Cart, and Zen Cart shopping carts
- Password-protected directories for limiting access
- OpenPGP/GPG encryption
- Built-in multi-currency payment system
Weebly Website Builder
JustHost plans come with a free domain name.
For those uninterested in using WordPress or any other CMS, JustHost offers all customers the Weebly website builder tool free of charge.
Weebly is a simple drag-and-drop page builder tool that allows anyone to create their own website, e-commerce shop, and blog.
With over a hundred themes available, Weebly makes choosing the layout and design of your site easy. Then, you can rearrange the elements on your site in order to customize the design however you want.
Using a website builder is more affordable than hiring a developer and much faster than learning how to code.
| Features | Coding a site | Weebly site builder |
|---|---|---|
Design | Developer or CSS and Javascript knowledge needed | Plug-ins and customizable themes readily available |
| Content | HTML knowledge essential | User-friendly front-end, no coding needed |
| Layout | HTML and CSS needed at a minimum | Pre-set themes and content builders available for free |
| Security | Developer or managed hosting (extra costs) needed | Plug-ins and built-in security measures readily available |
If you go with the Weebly website builder, keep in mind that your site will be subject to Weebly’s terms and conditions, in addition to JustHost’s terms. Weebly’s terms state that you will not own your content.
However, for those with limited time or technical skills, Weebly is an excellent alternative to using the more robust content management systems.
JustHost even offers a custom site management dashboard, where you’re able to manage and monitor your themes, plugins, and more!
Looking for a great hosting deal?
You can currently save up to 74% on JustHost plans. Use this discount link to get the deal. Includes over $100 in extras.
JustHost Datacenters
JustHost provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
JustHost has only one datacenter, located in Provo, Utah. This fact may not sit well with those who have an international brand, as using multiple datacenters placed throughout the world often delivers better performance to site visitors.
However, JustHost has ways to prevent excess downtime and slow page loading speeds should one customer on a shared server experience a large boost in traffic and monopolize the available resources.
CPU Protection
All JustHost shared servers are monitored using specialized software to ensure every customer receives their fair share of the server’s resources.
If at any time a server’s resources are abused, this software immediately notifies JustHost.
Cloudflare CDN
JustHost offers website owners the powerful content delivery network (CDN) Cloudflare free of charge.
This global CDN caches your content across the network so site visitors, regardless of geographical location, always receive your site’s content at fast speeds.
Uptime and Response Time
According to Pingdom, JustHost has averaged 100% uptime for the past six months.
In fact, over the past year, JustHost’s uptime never fell below 99.97%.
It’s worth noting that JustHost doesn’t guarantee uptime or compensate users for any downtime they experience. Rather, the company’s terms of service state:
“Due to the complexity and nature of a shared web hosting environment, downtime occurs. Unfortunately, we do not offer compensation for any downtime.”
Not as Fast as Competitors
In contrast to their above-average uptime, JustHost’s response time is a bit below what we typically see from hosting companies.
For the last six months, the average response time for JustHost was 913 ms. In the last year, their response time never got faster than 644 ms.
In Our Tests, SiteGround and Bluehost were Twice as Fast
Compare these response times with Bluehost, which had an average response time of 476 ms, and SiteGround, which averaged 431 ms. With JustHost, you could be looking at twice the amount of lag on your site.
Behind the Scenes
JustHost provides customers with cPanel for managing all aspects of your hosting account.
From the Home section of your cPanel, you can:
- Access and manage domain information
- Register a new domain
- Transfer a new domain
- Manage domain redirections
- Export a domain list to a CSV file
G-Suite, Add-ons, and Extras
Additionally, the CPanel interface provides you with the Google G-Suite, access to your hosted sites, the Mojo Marketplace, your emails, and other features like plugins, themes, and support.
cPanel Details
You can also log in directly to your website from the cPanel. And best of all, you can directly access the Help Center whenever you need assistance.
JustHost’s actual cPanel is very extensive. Luckily, everything is organized into clear categories.
Here are some of the key things you can access via the cPanel at first glance:
- One-click installs
- Mailing lists
- Cloudflare CDN
- FTP Manager
- Site statistics such as bandwidth use, error logs, and latest visitors
- Upgrades for domain privacy, SiteLock protection, Constant Contact, etc.
- Professional services such as site migrations
- Promotional services such as Google AdWords and Bing Ads
- SSH shell access
- Database tools
- Programming access
Customer Support
One thing that makes JustHost stand out from even the toughest competition is its dedication to customer support.
In fact, the company offers what it calls “customer tailored support” in the form of around-the-clock availability via phone and live chat.
In addition, it has an extensive ticket system, breaking down your queries into a variety of categories including affiliates, billing, sales, tech support, and verification. That way, your question is given to the right department immediately.
You are free to engage in a live chat conversation with one of JustHost’s support team members whenever you need assistance. Here you can ask questions and express concerns — whether you’re a customer of JustHost or not — and expect to get a prompt and informative answer. And there’s an online knowledge base to boot.
How JustHost Could Improve
JustHost is a solid hosting solution, but there are a few things that need improvement.
Automated Backups Cost Extra
Although JustHost allows you to manually back up your site, you must purchase a premium backup service to automate and guarantee your backups.
Some other hosts, such as Bluehost and SiteGround, offer automated backups for free (SiteGround offers backups and restores for free on all accounts).
Site Migration Isn’t Free
You can get assistance for moving your site to JustHost, but it doesn’t come free. For customers looking to switch hosting providers, you’ll need to budget for this extra cost.
Uptime Should Be Guaranteed
While uptime for JustHost has recently been good, historically they’ve had periods where it flagged.
JustHost should provide a guarantee of some sort to reassure customers their websites won’t go down without compensation.
Alternatives to JustHost
The following providers stand out as some of the best alternatives to JustHost:
Bluehost
Unlike JustHost, Bluehost offers guaranteed daily, weekly, and monthly backups of your entire account.
WP Engine
For those wanting more managed features, like caching, backups, and WordPress-specific support, WP Engine is an excellent option. But you should consider that this is far from the cheapest hosting provider on the market today.
SiteGround
Lastly, for those with concerns about JustHost’s uptime issues, check out SiteGround. With consistent 99.9% uptime and compensation for downtime, you can rely on this provider to keep your site up and running. Also, their prices are comparable to JustHost.
Most Popular JustHost Alternatives
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(Billed as $3.49 Per Month) ⓘPrices in are approximate, based on current exchange rates. The host will likely charge you in USD, or at a different exchange rate.
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$3.92
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(Billed as $3.49 Per Month) ⓘPrices in are approximate, based on current exchange rates. The host will likely charge you in USD, or at a different exchange rate.
Usual price: – Get % off!
Can’t decide?
Readers can currently save up to 74% on JustHost plans. Use this discount link to get the deal. Includes 30-day money-back guarantee.
JustHost Review Conclusion
The recurring theme here is that JustHost is a decent, though not spectacular, hosting provider. With plenty of variety when it comes to their plans, JustHost does a good job of providing adequate hosting features at afforable prices.
The best hosting provider for one site isn’t necessarily the best for another. It’s important for you to evaluate your site’s unique needs and decide whether the potential upsides of JustHost outweigh the downsides.
Are you ready to try JustHost? Get our discount.
About Brenda Barron
Brenda is an active online publisher and experienced WordPress blogger. She has been building websites since 1997. In addition, she publishes science fiction and fantasy stories under the name Brenda Stokes Barron.Connect with Brenda
- Can I buy Windows shared hosting from JustHost?
No. JustHost uses Linux and does not offer Windows hosting.
- Does the monthly price increase when it’s time to renew?
Yes. The introductory discount only applies to your first term of service. Thereafter, you’ll be billed at the regular rate for your plan.
- Do any plans include a free domain?
Yes. All of JustHost’s plans include one free domain registration. With shared hosting plans, the free domain is limited to the first year.
- Which programming languages does JustHost support?
It supports all common programming languages that can run on Linux servers, including PHP, Perl, Python, and Ruby on Rails.
- Does JustHost provide any hosting reseller options?
Yes. JustHost partners with ResellerClub for those interested.
- Can I create more than one website on my JustHost account?
It depends on your plan. The cheapest plan allows only one website, while the most expensive plan allows for as many sites as you like.
- Can I pay for my hosting plan with PayPal?
Yes. You can use PayPal, credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover), check, or money order.
- Can I pay for hosting services monthly?
Yes. Monthly payment plans are available for all of their hosting packages. No matter what billing cycle you choose, you can cancel at any time and get a refund for the unused portion of your cycle.
- What kind of backup services does JustHost offer?
JustHost may offer courtesy backups at their own discretion, but there’s no guarantee that backups will be available. They strongly recommend running your own off-site backups.
- Do nonprofits, schools, or students get special discounts with JustHost?
JustHost offers discounted rates to students at participating universities.
JustHost Reviews by Our Community
Overall Rating from 154 Reviews by JustHost Customers
| Support | |
|---|---|
| Quality | |
| Features | |
| Value |
Most Helpful Reviews
Malcolm Morris morris.hk
Nov 02, 2014
Andrew Raimist raimistdesign.com
May 06, 2010
I have recommended JustHost to friends and colleagues as a great low-cost web hosting service. I set up my site with few problems. I was given prompt, correct support when I needed help.
You need to have some level of comfort with technical issues to use this service. My primary use has been hosting sites I’ve developed on Dreamweaver, but I’ve also moved several sites I previously created using iWeb.
Rob Brazier coolrob335.com
Apr 15, 2011
I am very pleased with the uptime of my website, and them giving away unlimited virtually everything for a measly £2.75 per month. I think that’s a great deal! My only grudge is you have to pay for anything extra, but most of the things are pretty reasonably priced, and affordable.
I have sent a few tickets and all of them have been resolved quickly, and the staff seem to be friendly. I have no grudges about the support team.
I’ve used JustHost‘s ‘Unlimited’ shared hosting for a bit over 6 years. Its a standard Linux based cPanel setup. I use the account to host a number of small low-traffic domains, and have had no problems with up 18 small wordpress websites on the account.
Their ‘Unlimited’ plan does actually have limits – they say max 50,000 files, but I’ve got close to 100,000 at the moment and they haven’t complained. I’ve had to use their support a few times, and it’s been OK, but not great. There is often a long wait time for the live chat (anywhere from 10 to 30+ minutes).
The people I’ve spoken with have mostly been competent, and able to help or to pass me on to a specialist team when needed. Recently I had a malware infect several of my sites and had to pay for them to scan and clean the account. It would be nice if the hosting plan included scanning for infections – but again it’s cheap…
Sites hosted on the shared servers can be a little slow – but not terrible, and given that it’s one of the cheapest hosts available that’s understandable. I’ve never had a problem with uptime – the servers seem solid, especially since they did an upgrade a couple of years ago. I’ve had to move a couple of sites out of the shared server as they got bigger (200+ pages) or had lots of large images which were really slow to load, but for personal, or small business sites Justhost have been fine. Conclusion – solid inexpensive hosting that’s good value for the price.