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- Shared: $30 first year, then $7/mo
- VPS from $3/mo per slice
- 30-day refund on web hosting
- In business since 1999
- Shared: $4.54/mo first year, then $6.99
- Unmanaged VPS from $4.99/mo
- Seattle, Dallas, Amsterdam
- Security breach disclosed Oct 2026
InterServer wins. Its shared hosting is cheaper in the first year and renews at almost exactly the same price as Hostwinds, its VPS slices cost a fraction of Hostwinds’ VPS for the same RAM, it offers a 30-day refund on web hosting and its reviews are far better. Hostwinds has clearly priced managed VPS plans and a European data center, but it disclosed a security breach in October 2026.
On October 22, 2026, Hostwinds said it had found unauthorized access to the system that runs its client area and billing. It took the client area offline, rebuilt it on a new system, reset every customer’s client area password and brought in an independent forensic firm, whose investigation is still ongoing. Hostwinds says customer servers and websites stayed online. If you’re an existing customer, follow the steps on status.hostwinds.com.
InterServer and Hostwinds are two independent-minded budget hosts that both own and run their own infrastructure. InterServer has been around since 1999; Hostwinds since 2010 and is now part of HostPapa. Both sell shared hosting, VPS and dedicated servers. Here’s how they compare.
Shared hosting
| InterServer Standard | Hostwinds Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| First year | $30 ($2.50/mo) | $54.52 ($4.54/mo) |
| Renewal | $84/yr ($7/mo) | $83.88/yr ($6.99/mo) |
| First 2 years total | $114 | $138.40 |
| Websites | Unlimited | 1 (4 on Advanced, unlimited on Ultimate) |
| Storage and bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Control panel | DirectAdmin (cPanel plans also available) | cPanel |
| Backups | Weekly | Nightly |
Prices in US dollars from each company’s website, checked November 2, 2026. InterServer’s monthly plan is $2.50 for the first month, then $7 a month. Hostwinds bills shared hosting yearly, with 35% off the first year.
After the first year, the two renew at almost the same price, about $7 a month. InterServer is cheaper in year one and lets you host unlimited websites on its single plan, while Hostwinds’ Basic plan covers one site. Hostwinds wins on cPanel and nightly backups.
Winner: InterServer
VPS pricing
| RAM | InterServer (slices) | Hostwinds unmanaged Linux |
|---|---|---|
| 2 GB | 1 slice: 1 core, 40 GB SSD, 2 TB transfer, $3/mo | 1 CPU, 50 GB SSD, 2 TB, $9.99/mo |
| 4 GB | 2 slices: 1 core, 80 GB SSD, 4 TB, $6/mo | 2 CPU, 75 GB SSD, 2 TB, $18.99/mo |
| 8 GB | 4 slices: 2 cores, 160 GB SSD, 8 TB, $12/mo | 4 CPU, 150 GB SSD, 3 TB, $38.99/mo |
| Windows | From $10/mo | From $16.99/mo (unmanaged) |
| Managed support | Included from 8 slices | Separate managed plans, about 2× the price |
InterServer is dramatically cheaper. A 4 GB VPS costs $6 a month versus $18.99 at Hostwinds, with more storage and double the transfer. Hostwinds gives you more CPU cores at each size, which helps for CPU-heavy apps. InterServer also includes managed support once you reach 8 slices (16 GB of RAM), where Hostwinds charges roughly double for its managed plans.
Winner: InterServer
Features
- InterServer: InterShield security and malware scanning, cleanup help for hacked sites, SSD caching with LiteSpeed cache, free Cloudflare CDN, guaranteed email delivery through smart hosts, 461 one-click apps and free migration.
- Hostwinds: cPanel, Softaculous, free SSL, a free dedicated IP on shared plans, nightly backups, website monitoring, free migration, snapshots and custom ISOs on VPS, and hourly cloud servers. Data centers in Seattle, Dallas and Amsterdam.
Both are well equipped. InterServer leans into security and email delivery; Hostwinds offers cPanel, nightly backups and a European location.
Winner: Tie
Refunds, reviews and security
- Refunds: InterServer refunds web hosting in full within 30 days of sign-up (not VPS or dedicated servers once started). Hostwinds may give a prorated refund if you cancel and request it within 72 hours of payment.
- Reviews: InterServer has a 4.3 rating on Trustpilot from about 3,000 reviews. Hostwinds has 1.8 from 738 reviews.
- Security: Hostwinds disclosed unauthorized access to its client area and billing system on October 22, 2026; an independent investigation is ongoing.
Winner: InterServer
InterServer or Hostwinds: which should you choose?
Choose InterServer if you…
Pros- want the cheapest first year of shared hosting
- want unlimited sites on one plan
- want a very cheap VPS
- want a 30-day refund on web hosting
- value a long track record and good reviews
Choose Hostwinds if you…
Pros- are already a happy Hostwinds customer
- need cPanel and nightly backups on shared hosting
- want a clearly priced, fully managed VPS
- need a server in Amsterdam
- are willing to wait for its investigation results
Our take: InterServer is the better buy for both shared hosting and VPS: cheaper, more generous and better reviewed. We’d hold off on Hostwinds until it publishes the results of its security investigation. Read our full Hostwinds review, or compare more options in our best shared hosting guide.
InterServer wins on price, refunds and reputation, for both shared hosting and VPS. Hostwinds offers cPanel, nightly backups and simple managed VPS plans, but its recent security breach makes it hard to recommend right now.
Frequently asked questions
Is InterServer better than Hostwinds?
For most people, yes. InterServer is cheaper in the first year, much cheaper for VPS, offers a 30-day refund on web hosting and has far better reviews. Hostwinds disclosed a security breach in October 2026.
Which is cheaper, InterServer or Hostwinds?
InterServer. Its shared hosting is $30 for the first year versus $54.52 at Hostwinds, and both renew at about $7 a month. A 4 GB VPS is $6 a month at InterServer versus $18.99 at Hostwinds.
Does InterServer raise prices at renewal?
Yes, modestly. Its shared plan is $2.50 for the first month (or $30 for the first year), then $7 a month.
Which has a better money-back guarantee?
InterServer, with a full refund within 30 days on web hosting. Hostwinds may give a prorated refund within 72 hours of a payment.
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