Hatchling and Baby are HostGator's two most popular basic shared hosting plans (Business is the third). The main difference is the number of websites: Hatchling hosts one website, while Baby hosts unlimited websites. Choose Hatchling for a single new, low-traffic site, and Baby if you run several sites or expect your traffic to grow.
If you're just getting started with HostGator, here's a quick overview of both plans:
Compare these plans in a table
| Provider | Hatchling plan | Baby plan |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Hatchling plan | Baby plan |
| Number of sites | 1 Single | Unlimited |
| Number of Inodes | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| Addons domains | None | Unlimited |
| Best use cases | 1 small website | For hosting multiple medium-traffic sites |
| Starting Price | $3.75/mo | $4.50/mo |
Contents
1. HostGator Hatchling Plan
If you have a startup website, if you are a blogger, a techie, or a developer, the Hatchling hosting plan is just what you need to get started. It supports the hosting of one domain and provides several features that you need to get your website up and running in no time. This plan is ideal for beginners and it includes features like:
- Free SSL certificate: your site loads over HTTPS with a padlock icon instead of being flagged as "not secure", which matters most when a website or blog is new.
- Unmetered bandwidth: some hosts limit bandwidth and disk space, so you pay to upgrade before your site makes money. Hatchling's bandwidth is unmetered. It isn't unlimited, but it covers the normal needs of a small business website or an individual.
- Free WordPress/cPanel website transfer: move your website from any other host to HostGator at no cost.
- One-click WordPress installation: plus a simple drag-and-drop website builder for beginners, with 4,500+ WordPress templates to get started.
2. HostGator Baby Plan
The HostGator Baby plan is essentially a basic e-commerce hosting plan suitable for many types of websites. Unlike the Hatchling plan, it supports the hosting of unlimited domains, adding more value to businesses that run multiple websites. It is quite similar to the HostGator Business plan – though the latter has more advanced features – and can be used to build an online store.
The Baby Plan includes The Following Features:
- Free domain registration: new shared hosting accounts get a free domain (.com, .net, .org and others) for the first year on the 12-month billing cycle.
- Unlimited domain hosting: host as many domains as you want.
- Unmetered bandwidth and disk space: you aren't charged extra for the space or bandwidth you use, so you won't need frequent upgrades.
- Free SSL certificate: Let's Encrypt SSL that renews automatically every 90 days at no extra cost. It keeps your online store's data secure and helps build customer loyalty.
- Free WordPress/cPanel website transfer: a free, limited transfer for new accounts within 30 days of signing up.
First, Claim Your Discount
A Special deal that you can get benefit from with HostGator is trying out their hosting services for “45 days” in exchange for a total sum of “3 dollars”. All you have to do is sign up through the following link.
HostGator Hatchling Vs Baby Plan – (Comparison)
You might get overwhelmed with the choices available for hosting your website or blog and this is quite normal! What you need is a comparison of both these plans to make your choice clear.
To help you make a wise decision, here is a comparative review of both plans based on the following factors.
Domain Name Hosting
One of the major differences between the Hatchling plan and the Baby plan is that you can host only 1 domain name with Hatchling plan, while Baby plan provides unlimited domain name hosting.
This means if you choose the Hatchling plan and want to host a second domain name, you need to buy a new hosting plan or upgrade to Baby plan to get additional domain names for your hosting account, this might lead to an increase in your overall hosting cost.
Here, the Baby plan is in the winning position because it can help you save more in the long run by allowing you to host unlimited domain names.
User Type
Another key difference between the Hatchling and Baby plans is their user base. HostGator Hatchling plan, with limited domain hosting, is suitable for beginners who are just getting started with building their website or blog. It is ideal for a basic personal or small business website.
On the other hand, the Baby plan – with unlimited domain hosting – is good for growing websites with higher traffic. It is also suitable if you run multiple domain names. Typically, the Baby plan is designed for basic e-commerce hosting or business purposes.
Features
Both, the hatchling plan and baby plan are HostGator’s shared hosting plans and provide quite similar features. Both of these plans provide free SSL certification that ensures your website and all its data are fully encrypted and secure.
Unmetered disk space and bandwidth are other features that both plans offer. That means there are no hard limits on bandwidth or disk space on a Hatchling or Baby plan. You will not be charged based on the amount of bandwidth or disk space you use. You will be asked to upgrade only when you exceed the set bandwidth or disk space limit for your website.
Both plans also offer fast website transfers.
However, the Baby plan provides an added feature of free domain registration when you select a minimum 12-months billing cycle. With this feature, you can choose your desired domain name and use it at no additional cost for the first year.
Performance & Uptime
You will not see major differences in performance or uptime between the two shared hosting plans. Both the Hatchling and Baby plans are powered by the same server and there are only a few differences as we have mentioned above.
HostGator provides a “guaranteed” 99.99% uptime for all its shared plans. And from our personal experience, we can say that their uptime and performance are mostly 100% reliable. You can sign up for either the Hatchling plan or Baby plan depending on the type of your website, your audiences, and the hosting resources required for your website.
HostGator Email Hosting
Both plans allow you to create unlimited email accounts depending on your needs. HostGator uses industry-leading email servers that allow you to send & receive emails in a fast and efficient way.
With unlimited email hosting, you can also get the following added features:
- Unlimited mailing lists
- Spam Assassin
- Unlimited autoresponders
- Unlimited email forwarders
Control Panel
Again, both plans are powered by cPanel control panel, which makes them easy to use and gives you many customizable options.
Indeed, both Hatchling and Baby plans are simple to use and they have an uncomplicated setup process, which gets you going instantly.
Website Builder
To make it easier for users to set up their own website or blog, both Hatchling and Baby plans come with a website builder.
The drag-and-drop editor is easy to use and has over 4500+ customizations that allow you to set up everything – from a visually appealing website to an engaging blog or a functional e-commerce store.
Pricing
Though there are not too many differences between the HostGator Hatchling vs Baby plan, the latter is high-priced because it supports unlimited domain hosting.
So, the Baby plan is slightly high-priced and offers unlimited domains, ideal for growing websites with higher traffic.
Both The Hatchling Plan And The Baby Plan Include:
- Free Migration
- 24/7 server monitoring
- 99% uptime guarantee
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Unlimited FTP users and email hosting
- cPanel Control Panel
- One-click install of applications
- Unlimited MySQL databases
- 24/7 support
The Final Verdict
From the comparative review, we can conclude that HostGator Hatchling plan is most suitable for new website owners and bloggers. It is ideal if you need only one domain.
The hatchling plan is right for you if:
- You have a new website or blog
- Your website traffic is relatively low
- You are not self-hosting too many high-resolution images
- You do not provide downloadable products
On the other hand, the Baby plan is important when you want to host more than one website or blog, or when you have a growing website with higher traffic. It offers unlimited domain hosting with unmetered bandwidth and disk space. Otherwise, both hosting plans have somewhat similar features.
Ideally, the Baby plan is recommended as the best HostGator hosting plan as it can help save you more in the long run as your business scales and you need more domains to set up. At just $3.95/month, this plan is your ideal choice for unlimited website hosting.
You are just one step closer to making the right choice for your website. Before you opt for any of the hosting plans mentioned above, understand the requirements of your website, the volume of traffic it receives, the level of security you need, and the features you want to work with, this will make your decision easier.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Hatchling & Baby hosting plans provided by HostGator:
Can I upgrade to a higher-level plan?
HostGator allows you to add more domain names or upgrade your plan at any time. If you are using the Hatchling plan, you can easily upgrade to the Baby plan depending on your hosting requirements. There is no additional charge for upgrading; just pay for the corresponding plan.
Which is the best HostGator shared hosting plan?
According to our review and as per HostGator’s recommendation, Baby plan is the best shared hosting plan. The plan costs $3.95/month and offers unlimited domain hosting from a single account. If you want to host multiple websites with high traffic, this plan is most suitable.
Can I migrate my website/blog to HostGator or WordPress?
With the shared hosting plans, you can transfer your website/blog, databases, scripts, files, and one domain registration for free. If your website is hosted with some other hosting service provider or if you want to migrate your blog to WordPress, free migrations are available.
Do I get an SSL certificate with the Hatchling Plan?
Yes; despite being an affordable hosting plan, HostGator Hatchling plan comes with a free SSL certificate. This helps in encrypting all the information shared between the server and website visitors. The “https” and padlock icon in the address bar indicate the website or blog is “secured.”
How to install the SSL certificate on my hosting plan?
To get the certificate, you need to contact HostGator support team at (866) 964-2867. They are also available 24/7 to provide support on live chat.
Do I need both a domain and a web hosting plan?
To ensure your website is accessible online, it is important to have both a domain and web hosting. Without a domain, you have to direct website visitors through an IP address, this process can be complex. HostGator hosting plans allow you to register a domain or transfer your existing domain easily.
How long does the setup process take?
The time to setup will vary depending on the hosting plan you choose. New domains take around 1 hour to set up, while transferring your domain to HostGator shared hosting plan usually takes longer. And if you buy dedicated servers, it can take up to 24 hours to complete the provisioning.
How to view my bandwidth and disk space usage?
For any hosting plan, the process remains the same.
Log in to the cPanel and click the Bandwidth icon under “Logs” to see your bandwidth usage.
To view your disk space usage, click on the Disk Space Usage icon under “Files.”
Will I be charged monthly?
HostGator allows you to pay monthly. However, the most lucrative deals are for 12, 24, and 36-month hosting plans.
