1-and-1 Internet Web Hosting Review

by Domain Names on May.29, 2009, under Cheap Domain Name Price Watch, Top Domain Registrar according to Wikipedia, Web Hosting Review

Update (Dec 2009): After researching over 20 of the top domain name registrars, 1&1 Internet is quickly becoming one of our top picks. The big 5 domain types (.com, .info, .biz, .org, and .net) have a regular price of $8.99 per domain name per year. 1&1 still offers $0.99 for a .info domain name and $6.99 for a .com domain name. But, most importantly, 1&1 still offers free domain hosting privacy registration. (This is huge, considering that our previous favourite, bluehost, now charges $4.95 per domain name per year to protect your privacy.)

So far, 1-and-1 Internet has the best deals on domain names that we could find.

$0.99 for a .info domain name (regular price $8.99 per year)
$6.99 for a .com domain name (regular price of $8.99 per year.)
Free domain hosting privacy registration.

So we thought we’d look at their web hosting packages. They have a great ad on their website that caught our eye and made us wonder whether we should switch webhosting from Bluehost to 1 and 1.

Host unlimited domains + get up to 5 FREE domains with your 1&1 hosting account. Must see monthly hosting specials!

1-and-1 Internet is offering 5 free domain names with a web hosting plan. We only get one free domain name with our webhosting plan with Bluehost, so obviously this seems like a better deal. Or is it?

You only get the 5 absolutely free domain names if you sign up for the most expensive 1&1 Developer package – $19.99 per month. (If you sign up for their cheapest package (1&1 Beginner – $3.99 per month, you only get 1 free domain name.) In comparison, Bluehost gives you 1 free domain name and they charge $6.99 per month.
Both 1&1 Internet and Bluehost offer free private domain registration. (You shouldn’t be with a domain name registrar or webhosting company if they charge you for domain privacy because you paid for each domain name per year – it add up quickly.)
1&1 limits the number of subdomains you can create. (A maximum of 25 subdomains on the 1&1 Beginner plan all the way up to 600 subdomains on the 1&1 Developer package). You get unlimited subdomains with Bluehost
Although you can host an unlimited number of 1&1 domain names, they cap the number of external domain names you can host on your webhosting plan. (20 external domain names registered with other companies on the 1&1 Beginner plan to 200 external domain names with the 1&1 Developer plan)
You only get 10 GB to 300 GB web space with 1&1. With Bluehost, we get unlimited web space.
1&1 gives you a 90 day money back guarantee (full refund) but requires a 12 month minimum contract. Bluehost offers 30 day money back guarantee (full refund) as well as a pro-rated refund if you decide to cancel your service later on.