EarthLink

Introduction

EarthLink, a well-known web hosting provider in the United States, has been serving customers since 2009. With over 39,829 hosted domains and an Alexa rank of #7550, EarthLink offers a range of hosting solutions, including shared hosting, email hosting, domain registration, and web design services. However, with an average user rating of 2.7/10 based on 6 reviews, the company has faced criticism for its customer support and service reliability. This review explores EarthLink’s features, pricing, and performance to help you decide if it’s the right hosting provider for your needs.

Features

EarthLink provides a variety of hosting solutions tailored for small businesses and individuals. Their shared hosting plans include features like unlimited hosted domains, free domain registration, and a custom website builder. All plans come with anti-virus and spam filtering, WebMail, and organizing tools such as calendars and contacts. For eCommerce needs, EarthLink offers specialized plans with support for online credit card transactions, Rapid SSL certificates, and up to 1,000 email accounts.

Despite these features, EarthLink lacks transparency regarding uptime guarantees and money-back policies. The company operates from a data center in Atlanta, GA, and provides 24/7 support via phone and email. However, the absence of live chat support has been a point of frustration for many users. Additionally, EarthLink uses its proprietary control panel, which some customers find less intuitive compared to industry-standard options like cPanel.

EarthLink’s pricing ranges from $4.95 to $154.95 per month, depending on the plan. While their rates are competitive, some users have noted that the value for money is lower compared to other hosting providers like BlueHost or GoDaddy. The lack of promotions or discounts further limits its appeal to budget-conscious customers.

Conclusion

EarthLink offers a range of hosting services with features designed for small businesses and individuals. However, its low user ratings and lack of transparency regarding uptime and refund policies raise concerns. While the company has a long-standing presence in the industry, its customer support and control panel usability have been significant pain points for users.

If you’re looking for reliable web hosting in Sri Lanka or elsewhere, it’s worth comparing EarthLink with other top hosting brands. For businesses prioritizing affordability and robust customer support, exploring alternatives like BlueHost or GoDaddy may be a better option. EarthLink’s strengths lie in its domain-based email services and eCommerce hosting, but its overall value proposition falls short compared to competitors.