WordPress is one of the most popular (if not t-h-e most popular) blogging and site-building applications available nowadays. Its popularity amongst users is not without reason; WordPress has done an excellent job of empowering beginners by creating an intuitive administration panel, which enables users to create and manage their blog/site content without any knowledge of HTML or PHP.

Why iPage Recommended For WordPress Hosting?

Now, if you are unfamiliar with WordPress (or other CMS/blog application kinda stuffs) then you need to get a host that support auto-installation – which bring us to our post today – easy WordPress installation. One of the main reasons I like iPage is that it takes less than 5 minutes to setup a WordPress blog on your iPage hosting account.

Easy WordPress Installation at iPage

With the custom-built auto-installation system (known as InstallCentral), users are able to install various types of software (including WordPres) in just a few clicks. Simply login to your iPage hosting account, scroll down on the main control panel main screen, and click on InstallCentral to get started. Move on to ‘Blogs’ on next screen and you will come to a place where you can choose which blogging platform to install (there are three choices with iPage currently – WordPress, PixelPost, b2evolution). Select WordPress, click ‘Begin Installation’, key in a few basic information (such as blog name, tag lines, username, and password for the blog admin login) and you are done!

Like I said, the process merely takes more than 5 minutes and it is a certainly a huge plus for those who do not want to spend too much time in studying the guidebook and installing the CMS manually. For detail reference, here are two print-screens on the installation.

Print Screen of WordPress Installation at iPage

Front page of iPage control panel, navigate to InstallCentral.

Selection page of iPage blogging software.

Some basic info about HostMonster

According to its official website, HostMonster claims that the company has been providing hosting solutions since 1996 (though a quick check on WhoIS shows that the domain name is only created on December 2006). Nevertheless, shoppers should be aware that HostMonster is actually managed by the same management of BlueHost and FastDomain.

At time of writing, HostMonster is hosting more than 750,000 domain names.

HostMonster Official Website: http://www.HostMonster.com

Compare iPage and HostMonster Hosting Features

See table below for some quick comparisons between iPage and HostMonster key features.

Conclusion: iPage or HostMonster?

Given the fact that both HostMonster and iPage is managed by a group of industry veterans, I have no doubt that both web hosts are outstanding and trustworthy. The major differences between HostMonster and iPage are (1) Pricing, (2) Eco-Friendliness, (3) Database Choices, and (4) Free Marketing Credits. In my opinion, iPage is better in term of (1), (2), and (4) as the host’s price is slightly cheaper, 100% powered by wind energy, and offer more free marketing credits. HostMonster, on the other hand, support PostgreSQL database and MySQL database; whereas all you can get with iPage is just MySQL.

So to wrap things up, I would prefer iPage over HostMonster if PostgreSQL is not a must.

For more info, visit these two hosts online at:

» iPage Official Website: http://www.ipage.com
» HostMonster Official Website: http://www.hostmonster.com

Some basic info about StartLogic

StartLogic is a web hosting company started by Thomas Gorny. The company currently hosts over 100,000 websites, indicating significant viral growth. Their servers are housed in a datacenter located in Boston, Massachusetts. In the past, StartLogic, iPowerWeb, and Blue Domino are sister companies owned by Thomas Gorny and sharing the same headquarters.

StartLogic Official Website: http://www.startlogic.com

Compare iPage and StartLogic Hosting Features

See table below for some quick comparisons between iPage and StartLogic key features.

Conclusion: Who’s Better, iPage or StartLogic?

Limited MySQL databases, short trial period, non-green hosting, and not to mention, a higher price tag – It is extremely easy to see that iPage is the much better shared hosting choice when compare to StartLogic. Unless you wish to go VPS in later stage, else there is no reason why you should go with StartLogic.

For more info, visit these two hosts online at:

» iPage Official Website: http://www.ipage.com
» StartLogic Official Website: http://www.startlogic.com

Some basic info about BlueHost

Bluehost is a shared hosting company that has been classified as a WordPress host. The web hosting company is famous with its inexpensive and features-rich hosting service. It’s worth mentioning that BlueHost is among the first that offers unlimited hosting and supports Fantastico Auto Installation.

At time of writing, BlueHost is one of the 20 largest web hosts, holding more than 2 million domains with its sister company, HostMonster.

BlueHost Official Website: http://www.bluehost.com

Compare iPage and BlueHost Hosting Features

See table below for some quick comparisons between iPage and BlueHost key features.

Conclusion: Who’s Better, iPage or BlueHost?

Without doubt, iPage and BlueHost are both outstanding web hosts and their hosting plans are quite similar. The main differences between BlueHost and iPage are (1) Price, (2) Green Hosting, and (3) MySQL databases. BlueHost cost $6.95/mo whereas iPage cost $4.50/mo; iPage is 100% powered by green energy whereas BlueHost is powered by traditional power grid; iPage provides unlimited MySQL databases whereas BlueHost offers 100. Honestly, I don’t see any special reason (besides that BlueHost is a much popular name) to pay extra money for the same hosting features, I think iPage is the better choice in this match up.

For more info, visit these two hosts online at:

» iPage Official Website: http://www.ipage.com
» BlueHost Official Website: http://www.bluehost.com

When we talk about domain privacy, we normally refer to the feature that hide a domain owner’s personal data (such as name and contact details) and display a proxy contacts in WhoIs databases. Domain privacy is a great feature because non of us would like to have our personal details available to the public and ended up with bunch of junk calls and emails daily (that’s right, spammers and scammers actually will scan thru WhoIs records to obtain website owners’s contacts).

That’s great! Can I get this with iPage?

In case you wonder – Yes, this feature (domain privacy) is available with iPage. In other words, this means all iPage customers have the ability to mask their personal info on WhoIs. Sounds great, huh?

But wait, as most good things in our world, domain privacy feature does not come free. Any users who registered their domain with iPage and make it private will need to pay $8.99 a year.

Is $8.99/year a good price?

Well if you ask me, I would it is a fair price. Most domain registrars charge more or less the same amount of money for this feature. iPage’s domain privacy is actually a pretty popular feature that is used by many customers. If you check, one of the iPage users actually left a comment about this on my iPage User Review section – do read further to learn more about the web host.

iPage Green Hosting

iPage is a green leader in the hosting industry. The web host has reduced the carbon emissions of its operations (including both data centers and offices) by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (credits), which are then used to generate wind energy – which can be translated to planting 2,390 acres of trees or removing 510 cars from the road annually.

Besides helping our earth by reducing your carbon footprint, iPage’s green hosting is also a great way to launch a green market campaign. For quick start, you can check out the Green Badges (samples are shown above) supplied at iPage website.

More quick facts about green hosting

By the way, do you know the hosting industry could be as polluting as the airline industry in year 2020? SERIOUSLY! According to UK Amenworld’s recent study of over 3,500 web servers, web hosting company needlessly consumes 1,000 kWh per server on average, producing more than 630kg of CO2 gasses every year. The figures are certainly shocking and what’s more scary is that the numbers are increasing in a rapid speed.

I know it’s hard to believe hosting websites on the Internet can cause such damage to our earth but it is the truth. This is why picking a green hosting provider like iPage is important!

iPage DOES NOT offer $3.50/mo hosting anymore starting December 20th, 2010. Their price now (after discount) is $4.50/mo. Although the price tag is slightly more expensive than the previous, it is still one of the cheapest web hosting services. Check around other web hosts like StartLogic, HostMonster, as well as BlueHost and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Why pay more when you can get iPage at half of its price using this special promo link? iPage had released a discount link (50% off the retail price) to some of its partner and customers using the discount link will only need to pay $3.50/mo instead of the usual $6.95/mo (that’s $21 extra annually).

Click this promo link and sign up iPage now to lock in your 50% discount for life.

And if you have time, do visit my iPage User Review page after you sign up with iPage to share your review of this hosting service. Thanks and God bless!

CMS stands for Content Management Systems. The usage of CMS has became so popular nowadays, that I believe at least half of the websites today are built using CMS. Yep that’s right, hundreds of thousands of websites are pumped out everyday using CMS like Joomla, E107, Drupal, Mambo, B2Evolution, WordPress.. and so on.

In other words, if you are new and wish to stick with the crowds (so that if things go wrong you can get helps easily), high chances are you will end up using one of these systems. And, this is why you need a web host can do a ‘CMS auto-installation’.

Instant CMS Installation at iPage

iPage, for example, is one of the web hosts that support auto-installation for loads of different CMS (by the way, the auto-installation system named ‘Install Central’ at iPage). In case you wonder, here are  the types of CMS you can install instantly with iPage Install Central.

As you can see, iPage actually has all the most popular CMS covered in its Install Central.  In fact, the hosting companies actually has one of the best selections that I have ever seen before. This makes them an awesome selection for those who are looking for a good CMS hosting.

Does iPage support CMS?

Formally, iPage does not promise any kind of CMS support as problems that could arise are very unpredictable and out of iPage’s control (for example, iPage is not responsible for a security loop hole in the CMS). However, I have seen in certain cases where their support department has lent a helping hand with common CMS problems.

So, let’s have a quick round on email features at iPage hosting.

Email with yourname@yourdomain.com

Yes, iPage allows you to create email accounts using your domain. In fact, most web hosts do offer this nowadays – who wants to go with a web host without this email feature? So, avoid looking unprofessional, take advantage of this feature, and make your email at your domain name as soon as you signup your iPage account.

iPage Secured Email Accounts

One good thing I like about iPage is its email virus scanning feature. In case you are one of those who get loads of spam mail daily, remember to activate iPage’s virus scanning feature and get your emails automatically scanned by iPage.

iPage WebMail Feature

SMTP and POP3 email features are supported by iPage, as well as most other web hosts. WebMail features allow you to check emails on a web browser, which is important for those who do not have an email agent (like Outlook) or are always on the move.

Unlimited Email Accounts at iPage

Not every hosting provider allow unlimited email accounts. In fact, they will charge at an expensive price when you request extra email accounts. But that is not the case with ipage. at iPAge, you do not have to worry about adding email accounts as the web host provides unlimited email capacity.

Discover your FTP options at iPage

So what are your options with FTP at iPage? How many FTP accounts you can have at iPage? And, how will this feature affects your daily web operation?

Unlike many other scrupulous web hosts who set a tight limit on FTP accounts, all iPage users get an unlimited amount of FTP accounts. At first look you might wonder why do we need so many FTP accounts. But if you try to look further, you will see that the ability to create unlimited FTP accounts is actually a very important feature – especially when you need to delegate your work to others.

Why unlimited FTP accounts matter?

I am not sure about others but this happens to me in many web development jobs – you will probably need a separate FTP account for each one of the related personnel, including the site owner, ghost writers, webmaster, web developers, web supports, web designers… etc etc. Imagine if you are are hosting 20 to 30 sites on the same account, having 20 freelance ghost writers and 5 web developers working for you, and each of these personnel needs 1 FTP access to each website; in such case, a hosting account with 50 FTP account is definitely not okay.

Others: iPage review and more details on iPage features

Well, that is all I have to say about iPage FTP features, you might want to check out other iPage features before making the purchase. Also to learn more about iPage hosting, please read my iPage review at the homepage.