Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AWS Direct Connect VS HostGator

Compare AWS Direct Connect VS HostGator and see what are their differences

AWS Direct Connect logo AWS Direct Connect

Create a dedicated network connection to AWS

HostGator logo HostGator

HostGator is a leading provider of web hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Discover why over 9,000,000 websites trust us for their hosting needs.
  • AWS Direct Connect Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-22
  • HostGator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-12

AWS Direct Connect features and specs

  • Consistent Network Performance
    AWS Direct Connect provides consistent network performance by establishing a dedicated private connection, reducing unpredictable internet variability.
  • Increased Bandwidth Throughput
    It allows for high bandwidth throughput, which is beneficial for transferring large data sets, supporting applications that require high-speed connections.
  • Reduced Latency
    Direct Connect offers lower latencies compared to typical internet connections as it leverages a direct link instead of routing through multiple networks.
  • Enhanced Security
    Provides improved security via a dedicated private connection, reducing exposure to external threats compared to standard internet connections.
  • Cost-effectiveness
    Use of AWS Direct Connect can be more cost-effective for high bandwidth data transfer by reducing egress charges associated with internet transfer.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Direct Connect

  • Initial Setup Complexity
    Setting up AWS Direct Connect can be complex, involving coordination with AWS and third-party service providers to establish the physical connection.
  • Setup and Monthly Costs
    There are significant costs associated with setting up and maintaining AWS Direct Connect, which may not be justifiable for small-scale operations.
  • Limited Availability
    Direct Connect is not available in all regions or locations, which can limit its applicability for businesses in certain geographical areas.
  • Dependency on Physical Infrastructure
    As a physical connection, it relies on existing telecommunications infrastructure, which may be prone to disruptions or require maintenance.
  • Longer Provisioning Time
    Setting up the connection can take significantly longer compared to virtual connections due to the need for physical line installation and configuration.

HostGator features and specs

  • Affordable Pricing
    HostGator offers competitive pricing plans which makes it accessible for small businesses and individual users. They frequently provide discounts and promo codes.
  • Scalability
    HostGator offers a range of plans that can easily be scaled up as your website grows. Options include shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform features a user-friendly control panel (cPanel) which simplifies website management for beginners and experienced users alike.
  • Quality Customer Support
    HostGator provides 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email, ensuring that help is always available when needed.
  • Free Website Migration
    HostGator offers free website migration services, which can be particularly useful for users looking to switch from another hosting provider without hassle.
  • 99.9% Uptime Guarantee
    HostGator guarantees a high uptime, ensuring that your website remains accessible to visitors almost all the time.

Possible disadvantages of HostGator

  • Upselling
    HostGator tends to engage in aggressive upselling tactics for additional features, which can be annoying for users who are not interested in add-ons.
  • Performance Variability
    Some users have reported inconsistent website performance, particularly on shared hosting plans. This can impact site loading speeds.
  • Additional Costs
    Although the initial pricing is competitive, renewal rates can be significantly higher. Also, certain features like automatic backups are not included in all plans and come at an extra cost.
  • Security Features
    While HostGator offers basic security features, some advanced security options and monitoring are only available through paid add-ons.
  • Resource Limitations
    Shared hosting plans may come with resource limitations, which can affect the performance of larger websites or those experiencing high traffic.
  • Customer Service Wait Time
    Despite offering 24/7 support, some users have reported long wait times when contacting HostGator's customer service, particularly during peak hours.

AWS Direct Connect videos

AWS re:Invent 2018: AWS Direct Connect: Deep Dive (NET403)

More videos:

  • Review - Deep Dive on Global Connectivity with AWS Direct Connect Connections and AWS Transit Gateway
  • Review - EP-88 | AWS Direct Connect | Direct Connect Gateway | AWS LAG

HostGator videos

Hostgator Review: Testing Performance, Support & Features [NEW]

More videos:

  • Review - Hostgator Review: Is Hostgator Good?
  • Review - Hostgator Review 2020 - (My Honest Opinion After 10 Years of Use)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AWS Direct Connect and HostGator)
Web Hosting
2 2%
98% 98
Cloud Hosting
6 6%
94% 94
Hosting
1 1%
99% 99
Domain Name Registrar
2 2%
98% 98

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AWS Direct Connect and HostGator

AWS Direct Connect Reviews

We have no reviews of AWS Direct Connect yet.
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HostGator Reviews

12 Best Cheap Dedicated Servers Ranked
HostGator has become infamous with its poor customer support and server outages. In fact, there are so many negative reviews around the Web that I’m surprised the company still gets new signups.
Top 5 Affordable WordPress Hosting Providers to Watch in 2025
Selecting the right WordPress hosting provider is crucial for your website’s performance, security, and scalability. In 2025, five affordable and reputable providers to watch are: Rad Web Hosting, InMotion Hosting, Bluehost, HostGator, and A2 Hosting. This assessment examines each provider’s features, performance, pricing, and customer support to help you make an informed...
8 Best Shared WordPress Hosting Providers in 2025 (Compared)
Last on our list of best shared WordPress hosting providers is HostGator. They offer three shared hosting plans, each with unmetered bandwidth, at least 10 GB of storage, one-click WordPress installs, and a free domain with a one-year hosting plan. What makes HostGator unique is the scalability of its hosting plans. For example, if you start with the Hatching Plan and decide...
Best European Web Hosting Companies – A Quick View
Hostgator offers Shared, WordPress, Dedicated, VPS as well as Reseller hosting. If you’re a beginner in the digital field, We recommend you to try Hostgator and use the following link to gain the best discount!
Best Linux VPS [Top 10 Linux VPS Provider 2024]
HostGator is user-friendly, making it one of the excellent choices for both beginners and experts. Of course, all these features come at a high cost. Aside from price issues, HostGator doesn’t guarantee you any money paybacks. You should also note that setting up SSH and remote access to your server might be difficult for you as a beginner VPS user.
Source: cloudzy.com

Social recommendations and mentions

AWS Direct Connect might be a bit more popular than HostGator. We know about 7 links to it since March 2021 and only 6 links to HostGator. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AWS Direct Connect mentions (7)

  • AWS To Provide Free Data Transfer Out To Internet
    For larger datasets, or to set up a larger job to connect between an on-premises data center and AWS, the two most common options are Site-to-Site VPN and Direct Connect, both which come with a cost. AWS DataSync can also be set up to copy between on-premises and AWS, to automate moving data to a number of AWS services. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Bridging the Gap: Exploring AWS Direct Connect & AWS Site-to-Site VPN for Seamless Cloud-to-On-Premises Connectivity
    You can learn more about Direct Connect by exploring its official documentation. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • How far is my AWS region?
    The conclusion: in the cloud, do not guess anything when going through the internet. If you want to keep your data in your country, be sure that the network is encrypted (example for YugabyteDB: Encryption in transit) and to have predictable performance, use dedicated network (like AWS Direct Connect. Without it, connecting to a region in the same country is not a guarantee of taking the shortest route. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Reducing Your Cloud Costs: An Operational Optimization Guide
    The same principle applies for transferring data from your cloud to on-premises locations, and tools like AWS Direct Connect, GCP Direct Peering, and Azure ExpressRoute which may offer lower cost per GB compared to transfers over the internet. Actual savings depends on the amount of data you are moving, and if you are below a certain threshold, it might not make sense. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • AWS Data Migration Services
    For additional information on AWS Direct Connect select the following link: Https://aws.amazon.com/directconnect/. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
View more

HostGator mentions (6)

  • SiteGround vs. HostGator - Review / Comparison
    When comparing HostGator vs. SiteGround, I am very interested in what use cases they are best suited for. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Data Migration and User Deletion...
    We were basically hosting the e-mail on the server (we host through hostgator.com) and then using the outlook desktop app connected through IMAP. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Fresh install does not create index.html page
    FYI I am using hostgator.com as host and installing WP 6.0 using Softaculous. I have tried various themes and am having the same problem with any/all of the themes I have tried. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Customer Support for Non-account/customer
    My solution, that I started to use probably 20 years ago, is having my own emails & domain on a webhost server. Expect to pay $30 for a webhost, domain name & registration each year. Assuming your name is John Doe, you could have [jdoe@newDomainname.US](mailto:jdoe@newDomainname.US) or some such, plus 16 other emails [XXXXXX@newDomainname.US](mailto:XXXXXX@newDomainname.US). Spam filtering is free. You will... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Why are most web hosting sites horribly designed?
    Not all hosting websites are horribly designed at least for me , I find : hostgator.com siteground.com xtreamcoderz.com and some other really simple and beautiful. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AWS Direct Connect and HostGator, you can also consider the following products

Hostwinds - Hostwinds offers web hosting services and solutions.

Bluehost - One of the largest and most trusted web hosting services powering millions of websites. Join Bluehost now and get a FREE domain name!

GoDaddy - GoDaddy makes registering Domain Names fast, simple, and affordable. Find out why so many business owners chose GoDaddy to be their Domain Name Registrar.

HostPapa - HostPapa is a web hosting service provider for the small businesses.

Hostinger - Everything You Need to Create a Website

A2Hosting - Need Fast, Reliable Web Hosting? A2 Hosting Is The Leader In Optimized Hosting For Any Need! Try Our Hosting Service Today!