Imagine getting top-notch hosting without spending a lot. Many businesses look for cheaper options to expensive hosting. Small and mid-sized companies need hosting that’s both fast and affordable.
This review looks at Nexcess, a hosting provider that meets this need. As Liquid Web’s small business arm, Nexcess focuses on managed WordPress hosting. They offer cloud-based solutions that are easy to use, without needing tech skills.
Nexcess uses OpenStack technology and auto-scaling to ensure fast performance. When your site gets busy, it automatically adds more resources. This is great for online stores during big sales or busy seasons.
Nexcess hosting starts at just $19 a month for WordPress hosting. This makes top features affordable for smaller budgets. PCMag’s review shows plans go up to $999 a month for big businesses with lots of storage and bandwidth.
Nexcess also offers great customer support 24/7 through various channels. Their team handles server upkeep, security, and performance. This lets business owners focus on growing their business, not technical issues.
Key Takeaways
- Nexcess offers managed hosting starting at $19/month with enterprise-level features
- Auto-scaling technology handles traffic spikes automatically without manual intervention
- Free SSL certificates, daily backups, and premium plugins included in all plans
- 24/7/365 customer support available through email, chat, and phone
- Specialized solutions for WordPress, WooCommerce, and Magento platforms
- Cloud infrastructure built on OpenStack provides reliable performance and scalability
What is Nexcess Hosting?
Nexcess is a managed hosting provider for businesses of all sizes. It offers cloud hosting solutions that are easy to use for non-techies. At the same time, it gives developers the power and flexibility they need.
Small Business Branch of Liquid Web
Liquid Web Nexcess is the small business side of Liquid Web. It has over 25 years of hosting experience. While Liquid Web caters to big clients, Nexcess offers affordable solutions for growing businesses. It uses the same infrastructure and expertise but in a way that suits smaller operations.
Managed Cloud-Based Web Host
Nexcess takes care of all the technical work. Their team updates servers, watches for security threats, and keeps sites running smoothly 24/7. The platform uses OpenStack technology, spreading sites across multiple servers. This means if one server has problems, others quickly step in to keep sites up and running.
WordPress-Centric Hosting Focus
WordPress hosting is Nexcess’s main focus. They offer special environments for WordPress sites, WooCommerce stores, and Magento installations. Their team helps with plugin issues, debugging code, and optimizing database performance for these platforms.
Nexcess Review: Key Features and Benefits
Nexcess shines in the hosting world with its top-notch features. It offers powerful tools and easy-to-use options. This makes it perfect for businesses looking for reliable managed web hosting without the hassle of managing servers themselves.
Managed Hosting Services
Nexcess’s managed hosting is a big plus. Their team takes care of server setup, security, and updates. They also watch over your site, fixing problems before they start.
This lets business owners focus on growing their business. Nexcess handles the tech stuff.
Cloud Platform Built on OpenStack
Nexcess uses OpenStack for their cloud hosting services. This means your site is super reliable. If one server goes down, others pick up the load.
OpenStack also makes your site faster and more available. It’s way better than old-school hosting.
Auto-Scaling Technology
Auto-scaling keeps your site running smoothly, even when lots of people visit. It adds more power when needed. This means your site stays fast, no matter the traffic.
Staging Environments
Nexcess gives you staging areas for testing. These are exact copies of your site. You can try out new things without worrying about messing up your live site.
Nexcess Hosting Plans and Pricing
Understanding nexcess pricing helps businesses pick the right hosting. The platform has plans for different content management systems. Each plan is designed for specific needs, from small sites to large enterprises.
WordPress Hosting Tiers
WordPress hosting starts with basic plans for single sites. These plans grow to support agencies with many sites. Each level offers different visitor limits and storage.
Basic plans support up to 2,500 visitors. Professional plans handle 50,000+ visitors with better caching and CDN.
WooCommerce Hosting Solutions
WooCommerce hosting offers special features for e-commerce sites. It includes tools like abandoned cart recovery and automated checkout testing. Even with thousands of products, pages load quickly thanks to caching.
Plans range from small stores to large ones. Small stores handle 100 orders monthly. Large stores handle 5,000+ transactions.
Magento Hosting Packages
Magento hosting supports both Magento 1 and Magento 2. It comes with tools like Elasticsearch for search and Redis caching. Varnish acceleration boosts frontend speed.
Resources vary from 2GB RAM for small stores to 32GB RAM for large ones.
Enterprise Solutions
Custom enterprise plans let businesses choose exact resources. They can pick CPU cores, RAM, and storage. This ensures the hosting meets their specific needs.
Enterprise plans support up to 24 CPU cores and 64GB RAM. This is ideal for critical applications.
| Hosting Type | Starting Price | Monthly Visitors | Storage | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress Starter | $19/month | 2,500 | 15GB | 1 site, CDN included |
| WooCommerce Starter | $29/month | 3,000 | 30GB | Cart recovery, checkout testing |
| Magento Starter | $49/month | 5,000 | 50GB | Elasticsearch, Redis, Varnish |
| Enterprise Custom | $299+/month | Unlimited | Custom | Dedicated resources, custom config |
Performance and Reliability
Choosing a hosting provider means looking at nexcess server uptime and speed. Business owners need hosting that works well all the time. Nexcess uses advanced tech to keep your site up and running smoothly.
100% Uptime Guarantee
Nexcess promises your site will always be online with a 100% uptime guarantee. They offer credits if your site goes down. Tests show Nexcess keeps up with the best, like Site123’s 99.9% uptime.
NGINX Accelerator
The NGINX accelerator makes your site faster by caching static content. This means your site loads quicker for visitors. It also lets your server handle more traffic at once.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Nexcess uses a global CDN to make your site fast everywhere. Files are served from nearby servers, making your site fast for everyone. This makes your site load quickly no matter where visitors are.
Server Response Times
Nexcess servers use fast NVMe SSD storage. They’re super quick, with most sites loading in under 200ms. They also support the latest tech for the best performance.
| Performance Metric | Nexcess Standard | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Server Response Time | Under 200ms | 300-500ms |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD | Standard SSD |
| CDN Locations | Global Coverage | Limited Regions |
| Uptime Guarantee | 100% SLA | 99.9% Standard |
Ease of Use and User Experience
Nexcess offers a top-notch user experience with its custom-designed interface. It’s simple yet functional. The nexcess control panel is easy to use, making server management simple for everyone. This makes web hosting less intimidating, even for beginners.
The platform’s managed hosting features are highlighted by its one-click installation system. Users can set up WordPress, WooCommerce, or Magento sites quickly. The interface guides users through each step, making site creation easy.
For e-commerce entrepreneurs, StoreBuilder features are a big deal. They offer:
- Pre-configured templates for online selling
- Essential plugins pre-installed and ready to use
- Rapid deployment for launching stores fast
- Built-in optimization for better conversion rates
Managing multiple sites is easy with Nexcess website hosting solutions. The centralized dashboard lets users manage all sites from one place. It streamlines tasks like resource allocation and billing management.
The visual comparison tool makes things even easier. Site owners can compare staging and production environments side by side. This helps identify changes before they go live, keeping sites stable during updates.
During website migration, the control panel stays user-friendly. It offers clear progress indicators and step-by-step guidance. This ensures smooth transitions from other hosting providers.
WordPress Hosting Features
Nexcess offers specialized WordPress hosting with a range of tools for WordPress pros. Their hosting features are more than basic. They provide developers and agencies with full WordPress solutions. These solutions make managing sites easier and faster.
Performance Monitor Plugin
The Performance Monitor plugin tracks important metrics for your WordPress sites. It checks database query times and plugin performance. It also watches page load speeds in real-time. This helps site owners find and fix problems quickly.
Visual Comparison Tool
The Visual Comparison tool shows before-and-after screenshots of your website changes. It’s great for updating themes, changing layouts, or testing plugins. Developers can see differences right away without checking every page.
Free Premium WordPress Plugins
Every hosting plan comes with free premium WordPress plugins:
| Plugin Name | Regular Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| iThemes Security Pro | $199/year | Advanced security scanning, brute force protection |
| Compress JPEG & PNG Images | $59/year | Automatic image optimization, bulk compression |
| Object Cache Pro | $95/year | Redis object caching, faster database queries |
Multiple Website Support
Agencies get to manage many WordPress sites from one place. The platform updates WordPress automatically and offers rollback options. Staging environments work smoothly with production sites. This makes it safe to test updates before they go live. Nexcess’s features help manage multiple client sites well and securely.
E-commerce Hosting Solutions
Nexcess offers special ecommerce hosting solutions for online stores with lots of daily sales. It supports both WooCommerce and Magento with special tweaks for each. This makes sure your store runs smoothly.
For WooCommerce stores, Nexcess checks the checkout process after every update. This keeps payments working right, protecting your income. It also scales up during busy times to avoid slow loading and lost sales.
The Magento solution comes with top tools for big stores. Elasticsearch makes product search better, and Redis keeps sessions running smoothly. Varnish caching makes pages load fast, improving your site’s performance.
Every ecommerce plan has key features for selling online:
- PCI compliance tools for secure transactions
- Integrated payment gateway connections
- Abandoned cart recovery systems
- Query optimization for large product catalogs
- Fast page loads with thousands of SKUs
Nexcess keeps your site fast with smart caching and database tweaks. Big stores get quicker searches, and small ones get the same speed. This makes Nexcess great for growing businesses that need reliable hosting without hassle.
Security Features and Backup Options
Security is key at nexcess security features, keeping websites safe from digital threats. It uses many layers of protection and automated backups. This ensures data is safe and can be easily recovered. These managed hosting features work together to create a strong defense system that runs all the time.
Free SSL Certificates
Every domain on Nexcess gets a free SSL certificate that renews automatically. This encryption keeps visitor info safe when it’s sent between browsers and servers. The certificates install easily, without the need for manual setup. This is very important for ecommerce hosting reliability, as it protects customer payment and personal data.
Automatic Daily Backups
The platform takes a full website snapshot every 24 hours. It keeps files and databases for 30 days. Users can easily restore their sites to any point in this time using a simple control panel. These nexcess security measures run smoothly without slowing down the website or needing manual help.
Secure Password Management
Strong password policies are in place for all accounts. They require a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security, blocking unauthorized access even if passwords are stolen.
Remote Backup Storage
Backups are stored on separate servers from the main ones. This keeps data safe during server failures or disasters. When looking at web hosting comparison options, this level of redundancy shows professional hosting is different from basic services.
Customer Support Quality
Nexcess stands out for its top-notch customer support. The technical team works non-stop to fix hosting problems fast. They have WordPress-certified engineers ready to help every day, even on holidays. This shows Nexcess’s strong commitment to helping its clients.
24/7/365 Support Availability
Engineers are always ready to answer questions, day or night. They make sure websites keep running during busy holiday times. They know a lot about servers and WordPress problems. Support staff get lots of training on how to use the platform and solve common issues.
Multiple Support Channels
Customers can pick how they want to get help, based on what they need:
- Live chat – For quick help with simple questions
- Ticket system – For more complex technical issues
- Phone support – For urgent server problems
- Community forums – For talking with other users and finding solutions together
Response Times and Effectiveness
| Support Channel | Average Response Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | 2 minutes | Quick fixes, general questions |
| Support Tickets | 30 minutes | Plugin conflicts, debugging |
| Phone Support | 5 minutes | Server emergencies |
Quick responses make Nexcess’s hosting better. Most problems get fixed right away. For harder issues, they bring in experts who know specific platforms well.
Knowledge Base Resources
Users can find answers on their own with self-service options. There are lots of articles on how to set things up, make things better, and fix problems. There are also video tutorials for harder steps. The blog shares tips and news about performance and updates. Nexcess’s support goes beyond just talking to people through detailed guides.
Site Migration Services
Switching to a new managed hosting provider can be daunting for business owners. Nexcess makes this easier by providing free nexcess website migration services to new customers. Their team takes care of all the technical details of moving websites from old hosts.
The nexcess site migration service supports many platforms and hosting types. Whether you’re moving from shared hosting, VPS, or dedicated servers, their experts ensure a smooth transition. This managed web hosting service includes:
- Complete WordPress site transfers with all plugins and themes
- WooCommerce store migrations including product databases
- Magento installation moves with full catalog preservation
- Email account transfers to maintain business communication
- SSL certificate migrations for continued security
What makes these website hosting solutions unique is their zero-downtime approach. Migration engineers manage DNS updates carefully, keeping websites online during the transfer. For complex setups or large databases, dedicated specialists offer personalized help.
After the nexcess website migration, support doesn’t stop. The team checks that all site functions work well in the new setup. They also optimize performance settings for each website’s specific needs. New customers get 30 days of monitoring to catch any issues early.
This all-inclusive approach to nexcess site migration removes the technical hurdles that often stop businesses from changing providers. By handling everything from planning to post-migration support, this managed hosting provider makes upgrading hosting infrastructure easy and safe.
Nexcess vs Competitors
Choosing the right hosting provider is a big decision. You need to look at features, pricing, and performance. This managed hosting comparison shows how Nexcess compares to top providers. Each has its own strengths, depending on your business needs and technical needs.
Nexcess vs WP Engine
The Nexcess vs WP Engine comparison highlights their different approaches to WordPress hosting. Nexcess starts at $19 a month, while WP Engine starts at $30. Both offer staging environments and tools to monitor performance. Nexcess supports WooCommerce and Magento, while WP Engine focuses on WordPress.
Nexcess vs SiteGround
Looking at Nexcess vs SiteGround, we see big differences in infrastructure. Nexcess uses true cloud infrastructure with auto-scaling across all plans. SiteGround’s lower plans use shared hosting with limits. Nexcess offers application-level support and special optimizations, while SiteGround saves these for more expensive plans.
Nexcess vs Bluehost
The Nexcess vs Bluehost comparison shows they target different audiences. Bluehost is for beginners with simple dashboards and basic features. Nexcess offers advanced tools like visual regression testing and PHP version switching for growing businesses. It also has detailed staging and deployment options for professional developers.
Nexcess vs A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting focuses on speed, but Nexcess offers more managed services. Nexcess includes automated security hardening, application support, and proactive monitoring. A2’s unmanaged VPS plans need manual setup and upkeep, which Nexcess does automatically.
| Feature | Nexcess | WP Engine | SiteGround | Bluehost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $19/month | $30/month | $14.99/month | $2.95/month |
| Platform Support | Multiple | WordPress Only | Multiple | Multiple |
| Auto-Scaling | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Staging Environment | Included | Included | Higher Plans | Pro Plans |
Pros and Cons of Nexcess Hosting
This nexcess review shows a hosting provider with both strong points and weaknesses. Knowing both helps businesses choose the right hosting. Nexcess offers powerful features but also some trade-offs that might affect users.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Fully managed hosting features reduce technical workload | Limited data center locations compared to AWS or Google Cloud |
| Auto-scaling technology prevents traffic-related crashes | Email hosting requires separate configuration |
| 100% uptime guarantee with SLA credits | Custom control panel differs from industry-standard cPanel |
| Free premium plugins included (worth $500+ annually) | Higher costs for high-traffic sites vs unmanaged VPS |
| Visual comparison tools for development | Learning curve for users familiar with traditional hosting |
| Staging environments included in all plans | International latency concerns for global audiences |
The managed hosting features are a big plus. They save businesses a lot of time on server upkeep and security. The auto-scaling tech keeps sites up during busy times, proving Nexcess’s reliability. Plus, free premium plugins like iThemes Security Pro and Beaver Builder add a lot of value to Nexcess’s plans.
But, there are downsides for certain users. International businesses might face latency problems due to limited data centers. Users used to cPanel might find Nexcess’s custom interface a bit of a challenge. While Nexcess’s pricing is great for managed services, sites with lots of traffic might find cheaper options in unmanaged VPS.
Who Should Choose Nexcess?
Nexcess is perfect for businesses and professionals needing reliable managed wordpress hosting. It’s great for those who don’t want to deal with server management. It offers professional hosting solutions with scalability and expert support.
Small to Mid-Sized Businesses
Growing companies find Nexcess ideal for their hosting needs. It eliminates the need for dedicated IT staff. It provides enterprise-level infrastructure.
Businesses can start small and grow without server migrations. The wordpress hosting performance stays consistent, whether it’s hundreds or thousands of visitors daily.
E-commerce Store Owners
Online retailers get specialized features from Nexcess. It offers automated cart testing, sales surge handling, and PCI compliance tools. WooCommerce and Magento store owners get platform-specific optimizations.
These improve checkout speeds and customer experience.
WordPress Developers and Agencies
Development teams love Nexcess’s professional tools. It has staging environments for safe testing before deployment. Visual regression testing catches design issues automatically.
The managed ecommerce platform reduces development time. It simplifies client management across multiple projects.
Multiple Website Managers
Portfolio managers handling many sites find Nexcess valuable. It offers centralized billing for easier accounting. Unified security monitoring protects all sites at once.
Bulk update capabilities save hours of maintenance. When comparing ecommerce platforms, Nexcess often wins for multi-site operators.
Getting Started with Nexcess
Setting up your website with this managed hosting provider is quick. It only takes a few minutes. You’ll go through each step, from picking a plan to launching your site.
Whether it’s a blog, online store, or business site, it’s easy. The platform’s design makes starting out simple.
Account Setup Process
First, you choose from wordpress hosting plans based on your needs. The Nexcess pricing structure has options from $19 for blogs to $43 for businesses. After picking your plan and paying, your account is ready.
There are optional tours to show you key nexcess features and settings.
Domain Registration Options
The nexcess control panel makes registering domains easy. You can register new domains or transfer existing ones. The system takes care of technical details like nameserver updates.
Installing WordPress or Other Platforms
Installing WordPress takes less than a minute with the one-click installer. It sets up databases and security settings for you. Other platforms also have optimized installation processes.
Configuring Your First Website
Configuring your site includes choosing a data center and enabling CDN. You also set up automated backups. There are wizards for tasks like SSL certificates and email setup.
These wizards guide you through each step. They make technical tasks easy for everyone.
Conclusion
After looking into Nexcess hosting performance, it’s clear it’s a top pick for businesses. It offers reliable web hosting at a price that’s right for small and medium businesses. Nexcess works with Liquid Web, giving it more than just server maintenance.
Nexcess has cool features like auto-scaling, a 100% uptime promise, and strong security. It’s pricier than some, but it’s worth it for the hassle-free service and extra features. The support team is quick to help, letting businesses grow without worrying about servers.
This review highlights Nexcess as a great choice for growing businesses and online stores. It beats competitors in performance, support, and growth. For those looking for a reliable hosting solution, Nexcess is a wise choice.
FAQ
What makes Nexcess different from other managed hosting providers?
Nexcess stands out because it offers more than just server maintenance. It supports WordPress, WooCommerce, and Magento at the application level. As Liquid Web’s small business arm, it provides top-notch infrastructure and tools like auto-scaling and visual comparison tools. It also offers free premium plugins worth hundreds of dollars.
Unlike many, Nexcess uses true cloud hosting on OpenStack. This means it automatically allocates resources during traffic spikes.
How reliable is Nexcess hosting performance and uptime?
Nexcess guarantees 100% uptime and offers account credits for any downtime. It uses redundant OpenStack cloud infrastructure and replicates data across multiple servers. This ensures sites keep running even when hardware fails.
Most sites load in under 200ms. The NGINX accelerator and CDN improve page speeds for visitors worldwide.
What are Nexcess pricing plans for WordPress hosting?
Nexcess has tiered WordPress hosting starting at competitive rates for single sites. Plans grow with your needs, including visitor capacity and storage. All include staging environments, daily backups, free SSL, and premium plugins.
Higher tiers support multiple WordPress sites and offer centralized management. Enterprise plans provide custom configurations with up to 24 CPU cores and 64GB RAM.
Is Nexcess suitable for WooCommerce and ecommerce hosting?
Yes, Nexcess excels in ecommerce hosting, with special optimizations for WooCommerce stores. It includes automated checkout testing and abandoned cart recovery tools. Enhanced caching and PCI compliance features are also available.
The auto-scaling infrastructure handles traffic spikes, preventing slow page loads. This ensures fast performance even with thousands of products.
How does Nexcess handle website security and backups?
Nexcess has strong security measures like Web Application Firewalls and real-time malware scanning. It also offers DDoS protection and daily automatic backups with 30-day retention. Backups are stored remotely for extra security.
It also includes free SSL certificates, brute force attack protection, two-factor authentication, and secure password enforcement.
What level of customer support does Nexcess provide?
Nexcess offers 24/7/365 support from WordPress-certified engineers. They are available through live chat, tickets, and phone. Chat responses are usually within 2 minutes, and tickets are answered in 30 minutes during business hours.
The team handles server and application-level issues, including WordPress plugin conflicts and theme debugging.
Does Nexcess offer free website migration services?
Yes, Nexcess provides free website migration for new customers. Their team handles WordPress, WooCommerce, and Magento migrations with zero downtime. They cover DNS updates, SSL transfers, and email migrations.
For complex migrations, dedicated engineers offer personalized help and 30-day monitoring post-migration.
How does Nexcess compare to WP Engine for managed WordPress hosting?
Nexcess is more affordable than WP Engine at the entry level but offers similar managed WordPress features. Nexcess supports multiple platforms, including WooCommerce and Magento. Both offer staging environments and performance monitoring.
Nexcess includes free premium plugins and visual regression testing tools. It also supports multiple platforms, making it ideal for businesses with different CMS platforms.
What is the Nexcess control panel like for beginners?
Nexcess has an intuitive custom control panel for non-technical users. It eliminates the need for command-line server management. The interface offers one-click installations and visual tools for comparing website versions.
It also has centralized management for multiple sites. While it differs from cPanel, it includes setup wizards and guided tours for beginners.
Can Nexcess handle high-traffic websites and traffic spikes?
Yes, Nexcess’s auto-scaling technology monitors traffic and allocates more resources during spikes. This prevents slowdowns or crashes. Its cloud hosting infrastructure on OpenStack provides elastic scalability for growing businesses and ecommerce sites.
This feature is valuable for online stores during sales events or viral content situations.
What are the main limitations or drawbacks of Nexcess hosting?
Nexcess offers robust features but has limited data center locations. This may affect latency for some international audiences. Email hosting requires separate configuration, unlike some competitors.
The custom control panel may require adjustment for cPanel users. Pricing increases for high-traffic sites, but the managed services often justify the cost.
Is Nexcess a good choice for WordPress developers and agencies?
Nexcess is great for WordPress developers and agencies. It offers staging environments, visual regression testing, and multi-site management. The platform supports multiple PHP versions and provides development tools for testing changes.
It includes the Performance Monitor plugin for optimization. Centralized billing and bulk update capabilities streamline client management. White-label options support agency branding needs.