Specializing in a very specific niche of web hosting can be an extremely challenging thing to do but Kinsta has managed to succeed. The company offers users the unique opportunity to opt for extremely powerful web hosting that is designed around a single platform – WordPress.
Suitable for: Managed WordPress, Developers-friendly, or eCommerce Hosting
Website: https://kinsta.com/
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Kinsta: The Basics
- Major Downsides
- Low PHP Worker & Monthly Visit Limits
- Expensive Paid Add-Ons
- Misleading Cloudflare Integration
- Inferior DNS Performance
- Slow Network SSDs
- Limited Memory
- Insufficient CPU Cores & RAM
- Lack of Participation in Benchmark Tests
- Price Hikes Despite Performance Decline
- Sinking TrustPilot Rating
- Perks of Using Kinsta
- Google Cloud C2 Platform
- Kinsta MU Plugin
- Data Center Availability
- Free Migrations
- Kinsta Alternatives
- Conclusion
Introduction
Hey there, fellow web enthusiasts! If you’re here, you’re probably curious about Kinsta and whether it lives up to the hype. As a programmer who’s tried multiple hosting services, I’m here to give you the lowdown on Kinsta. Spoiler alert: it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
Kinsta: The Basics
Kinsta markets itself as a high-performance managed WordPress hosting provider. They use Google Cloud’s premium tier and offer features like daily backups, staging environments, and a custom dashboard. But let’s cut to the chase—are they worth the hefty price tag?
Major Downsides
1. Low PHP Worker & Monthly Visit Limits
Kinsta’s plans start at $35/month for 2 PHP workers and 25,000 visits. If you’re running an eCommerce site or any site with decent traffic, you’ll quickly outgrow this plan. Upgrading means paying significantly more—think $115 to $450 per month for more PHP workers. Other hosts, like Rocket.net, offer unlimited PHP workers and 250,000 visits for just $30/month. Kinsta’s limits are a major bottleneck and can get expensive fast.
2. Expensive Paid Add-Ons
Kinsta charges for essential add-ons like Redis ($100/month) and Nginx reverse proxy ($50/month). Need a staging environment with more than 1 CPU core? That’s an extra $20/month. These fees add up quickly and are a significant drawback. Most hosts offer these features for free or at a lower cost.
3. Misleading Cloudflare Integration
Kinsta boasts an “enterprise-level Cloudflare integration,” but it’s far from it. They offer basic features like full-page caching and a layer 7 firewall but lack advanced features like Argo Smart Routing, load balancing, and Mirage/Polish image optimization. Other hosts provide more comprehensive Cloudflare integrations for less.
4. Inferior DNS Performance
Kinsta uses Amazon Route 53 for DNS, which is slower than Cloudflare’s DNS. On dnsperf.com, Cloudflare consistently outperforms Amazon Route 53, meaning you could face slower response times with Kinsta.
5. Slow Network SSDs
Kinsta uses older network SSDs instead of the faster NVMe SSDs used by many competitors. This results in slower data retrieval and overall performance.
6. Limited Memory
Kinsta’s standard plans come with a 256MB PHP memory limit. Even their higher-tier plans only offer 512MB. For more memory, you’ll need to contact support, and they often recommend upgrading to an agency plan. This is quite restrictive, especially for resource-intensive sites.
7. Insufficient CPU Cores & RAM
Kinsta offers 12 CPU cores and 8GB RAM on standard plans, which pales in comparison to Rocket.net’s 32 cores and 128GB RAM. For staging sites, Kinsta provides just 1 CPU core and 8GB RAM, while Rocket.net offers the full 32 cores and 128GB RAM. This can lead to slowdowns and even 500 errors during high traffic.
8. Lack of Participation in Benchmark Tests
Kinsta does not participate in Kevin Ohashi’s WordPress Hosting Benchmark tests. If they’re as fast as they claim, why not prove it in an independent benchmark?
9. Price Hikes Despite Performance Decline
Kinsta has raised their prices while their performance has reportedly declined. They justify the high costs with features and resources that are often inferior to what competitors offer at lower prices.
10. Sinking TrustPilot Rating
Kinsta’s TrustPilot rating has taken a hit with numerous complaints. While many positive reviews are solicited, the negative reviews highlight consistent issues with performance and customer service.
Perks of Using Kinsta
Google Cloud C2 Platform
Kinsta uses Google Cloud’s C2 compute-optimized machines, which are known for their performance. This is one of the few areas where Kinsta stands out.
Kinsta MU Plugin
Kinsta’s MU plugin handles full-page caching and CDN integration, providing automatic cache clearing and custom caching rules. However, Kinsta bans many other useful caching plugins, limiting your optimization options.
Data Center Availability
Kinsta offers 35 data centers worldwide, ensuring you can choose a location closest to your audience for better performance.
Free Migrations
Kinsta offers unlimited free migrations from a range of hosts. This is a nice perk if you’re considering switching to Kinsta.
Kinsta Alternatives
- Rocket.net: Offers 32 CPU cores, 128GB RAM, free Redis, NVMe SSDs, and a more comprehensive Cloudflare Enterprise integration. Priced lower than Kinsta with better performance.
- Cloudways: Provides flexibility with multiple cloud providers and scalable plans. Offers NVMe storage and Redis Object Cache Pro.
- DigitalOcean: For those who can manage their own server, DigitalOcean offers more resources at a lower cost compared to Kinsta.
Conclusion
Kinsta might seem like a great option with its sleek marketing and Google Cloud infrastructure, but dig a little deeper, and the cracks start to show. From expensive add-ons to restrictive limits and misleading features, there are better and more cost-effective hosting options out there.
If you value performance, flexibility, and fair pricing, look beyond Kinsta. Consider alternatives like Rocket.net, Cloudways, or even managing your own server on DigitalOcean. Don’t fall for the hype—get the facts and choose a host that truly meets your needs.